Turn off or limit AI: Meta AI, Gemini, Copilot and Apple Intelligence

Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote

Microsoft's steps apply when you sign in with a personal Microsoft account (for example an Outlook.com address). The checkbox only affects that one app on that one computer, and it turns Copilot off for anyone who uses that computer.

1. Windows: in the app, go to File → Options → Copilot.
2. Clear the Enable Copilot checkbox.
3. Select OK, then close and restart the app. Repeat in each app you use.

Mac: in the app, open the app menu, then Preferences → Authoring and Proofing Tools → Copilot, clear Enable Copilot, and restart the app. (OneNote isn't listed for Mac.)

No checkbox? Update the app. Microsoft says you can't turn Copilot off in the iPhone, Android or web versions of Word, Excel or PowerPoint.

Outlook

Outlook has a Turn on Copilot switch instead. Turn it off once and it applies to Outlook on all your devices signed in with the same account.

• New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web: Settings → Copilot
• Outlook for iPhone, Android and Mac: Quick Settings → Copilot

Microsoft says there's no date yet for this switch in classic Outlook for Windows.

The Copilot app on Windows

If you never use it, you can uninstall it like any other app: Start → Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find Copilot, then select More (…) → Uninstall.

Stop Gemini saving your chats (Keep Activity)

Google says Keep Activity is on by default if you're 18 or over.

1. On a computer or in your phone's browser: go to gemini.google.com and choose Settings & help → Activity (or go straight to myactivity.google.com/product/gemini).
2. Near the top, choose Turn off, or Turn off and delete activity to also delete past chats.

Google says that even with Keep Activity off, your conversations are saved with your account for up to 72 hours. They don't appear in your activity.

Gemini and AI features in Gmail

Gmail's AI is controlled by two separate settings. On a computer, go to Gmail, then Settings → See all settings → General:

1. Under Smart features, uncheck Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet. This turns off Smart Compose, Smart Reply, summary cards and automatic inbox categories.
2. Under Google Workspace smart features, select Manage Workspace smart feature settings and turn off Smart features in Google Workspace. This is the one that controls asking Gemini to summarize and draft. You can also turn off Smart features in other Google products.
3. Select Save.

Gemini on an Android phone

Menu names vary by phone maker. Google's options:

• Stop it opening from the power button: Settings → System → Gestures → Press & hold power button, then choose a different action.
• Stop “Hey Google”: in the Gemini app, tap your profile picture, then Settings → Talk to Gemini hands-free and turn off “Hey Google.”
• Stop it opening when the phone is locked: in the Gemini app, Settings → Gemini on lock screen, turn off Use Gemini without unlocking.
• Remove it as your assistant: Settings → Apps → Default apps → Digital assistant app → Default digital assistant app, then choose None.

Google notes that deleting the Gemini app doesn't remove Gemini as your default assistant, so change that setting too.

Gemini in Chrome on a computer

In Chrome, select More (⋮) → Settings → AI innovations → Gemini in Chrome. Under Preferences, turn off Show Gemini at the top of the browser, plus the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) option. You can also right-click the top of the browser and choose Unpin Gemini.

Apple's current guides (iOS 27 and macOS 27) turn Apple Intelligence features off one at a time. Pick the ones you don't want.

iPhone

• Siri AI: Settings → Siri, scroll down, tap Turn Off Siri, and confirm. Want the old Siri for timers and music? Then tap Turn on Siri and choose Siri Classic.
• Message summaries: Settings → Apps → Messages, turn off Summarize Messages.
• Email summaries: Settings → Apps → Mail, turn off Summarize Message Previews.
• Notification summaries: Settings → Notifications → Summarize Notifications, turn it off.
• Priority notifications: Settings → Notifications → Prioritize Notifications, turn it off.

Mac

• Siri AI: System Settings → Siri → Turn Off Siri, then confirm. To use Siri Classic, click Turn On Siri and choose Use Siri Classic.
• Message summaries: in Messages, Messages → Settings, turn off Summarize Messages.
• Email summaries: in Mail, Mail → Settings → Viewing, turn off Summarize Message Previews.
• Notification summaries: System Settings → Notifications → Summarize Notifications, turn it off.

To block Apple Intelligence features for yourself or a child, Apple points to Screen Time restrictions. These steps are for iOS 27 and macOS 27.

WhatsApp doesn't offer a switch to remove Meta AI. WhatsApp's privacy page says Meta AI is optional and only “on” when you choose to message it. If you or someone in a group chats with it, Meta receives what's sent to it. Your personal chats with people stay end-to-end encrypted.

• Simplest step: don't message Meta AI, and don't send it anything you wouldn't want it to remember. Meta's own advice is to only send it what you're comfortable with it remembering.
• Meta AI app: Menu → Settings → Data & privacy → Manage your information → Delete all chats and media → Delete all.

Facebook, Instagram and Messenger: We haven't been able to confirm steps for these apps yet, so we're not giving them here.