Microsoft lets Office users hide the floating Copilot button

*Microsoft will ship controls next week that let users turn off or reposition the Copilot icon after Excel users complained it blocked their work.*

Microsoft is pushing updates to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that give users the option to disable the floating Copilot button. The button currently sits in the lower right corner of documents and spreadsheets. Excel users reported that it covered cells and could not be removed entirely.

The change follows direct feedback to the company. Katie Kivett, partner group product manager at Microsoft, acknowledged the issue in a statement. She noted that the button drove higher Copilot usage yet also prompted requests for more control over its placement.

The update will reach users in the coming week. It addresses the specific complaint that the icon obstructed content without a full off switch. No other interface changes were described in the announcements.

Why it matters

The move shows Microsoft responding to friction that appeared once the button reached broad release. Users who treat Excel as a daily calculation tool now regain the ability to keep their workspace clear. Product teams that add similar persistent UI elements will watch whether this pattern of quick reversal becomes standard when engagement metrics clash with workflow complaints.

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Sources:

• The Verge
• Neowin

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