How do I disable the Share with Copilot popup on my Windows 11 taskbar?

Does the new Share with Copilot feature actually help with productivity or just analyze my screen?

Microsoft has deployed a new feature called “Share with Copilot” directly into the Windows 11 interface. This integration allows users to send the visual content of an active application window to the AI assistant for analysis. The feature appears when a user hovers over an open application icon on the taskbar. While initially observed on specialized Intel Lunar Lake Copilot+ PCs, this rollout extends to standard hardware configurations, including older Intel and AMD systems.

This functionality arrives via Windows 11 update KB5072033 (Build 26200.7462 or newer). Microsoft enables this setting by default. Users will see the option immediately after updating without manual activation.

Operational Mechanics and Limitations

The “Share with Copilot” function operates on a “read-only” basis. When a user activates the feature, the system sends a visual snapshot of the specific window to cloud-based servers for processing. The AI parses the text and UI elements within that frame.

Capabilities:

• Visual Guidance: The AI can overlay a digital cursor on the user’s screen to highlight specific buttons or menus.
• Contextual Q&A: Users can ask questions regarding the content displayed, such as summarizing an email or locating specific settings.

Current Flaws:

• Hallucinations: Testing reveals significant error rates. In an Outlook scenario, the AI instructed a user to click a non-existent “Send” button before correcting itself to highlight the “Reply” button.
• No Direct Control: Copilot cannot navigate the interface, scroll, or input clicks. It remains a passive observer.
• DRM Restrictions: The tool fails to capture content from protected sources like Netflix.

The Technical Framework: Limited Access APIs

Microsoft facilitates this feature through a specific Windows API: Windows.UI.Shell.ShareWindowCommandSource. This interface connects communication applications directly to the Windows Shell. It allows the operating system to manage sharing commands and identify specific Window IDs.

This implementation raises competitive concerns. Microsoft classifies this API as a “Limited Access Feature.” Third-party developers cannot utilize this tool without obtaining an explicit unlock token and approval from Microsoft. Consequently, competitors like OpenAI cannot currently integrate ChatGPT into the Windows taskbar with similar native fluidity. Microsoft leverages this restriction to prioritize Copilot over other AI assistants.

Advisory: How to Disable the Feature

Professionals concerned with screen privacy or workspace clutter should verify their settings, as the default configuration permits this overlay.

Steps to deactivate:

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Personalization.
3. Select Taskbar.
4. Expand the Taskbar behaviors section.
5. Locate the setting labeled “Share any window from my taskbar with“.
6. Change the selection from “Chat agent apps” (or “All apps“) to “None“.

This action removes the Copilot prompt from the taskbar hover menu while retaining standard window management functions.