Microsoft Copilot Disappears After Latest Windows 11 Update
The Problem
Those of you who ran Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update last week may have noticed at least one change. Copilot has vanished.
The Cause
Rolled out on March 11 for this month’s Patch Tuesday, KB5053598 was designed to squash several outstanding bugs and add a few new features for Windows 11. But along with those changes comes the new bug affecting Microsoft’s favorite AI app.
The Solution
In a notice following the update’s release, Microsoft revealed that the Copilot app is unintentionally uninstalled and unpinned from the taskbar on some devices. The glitch affects only the regular Copilot app and not the Microsoft 365 Copilot app available through a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Microsoft said that it’s working on a resolution to resolve the problem. But if Copilot has disappeared on your PC and you want it back, here’s what to do:
- Head to the Microsoft Store page for Copilot, download the app, and then run the downloaded exe file.
- To put Copilot back on the Taskbar, click the Start button and look for Copilot in the Start menu or All screen. Right-click its shortcut, move to the More menu, and click Pin to Taskbar. You can then launch and use Copilot as you normally would.
The Larger Issue
Windows 11 has been plagued by a host of glitches, most of the latest ones centered on the 24H2 version. Microsoft is still trying to catch up with some outstanding bugs, including those accidentally introduced by certain updates.
Conclusion
In the overall scheme of issues, this snafu with Copilot is relatively minor since it’s easy to fix by just reinstalling the app. But this shows that Microsoft continues to grapple with obstacles that affect the stability and reliability of Windows 11 24H2. And that’s an overall problem that the company must resolve before it cuts off support for Windows 10 this coming October.
FAQs
Q: What is the cause of the Copilot app’s disappearance?
A: The cause is a bug in the latest Windows 11 update, KB5053598, which unintentionally uninstalls and unpins the regular Copilot app from the taskbar.
Q: Is the Microsoft 365 Copilot app affected?
A: No, the Microsoft 365 Copilot app is not affected by this bug and can still be used as usual.
Q: How can I get Copilot back on my PC?
A: You can download the Copilot app from the Microsoft Store, run the downloaded exe file, and then pin it to the Taskbar.
Q: Is this a major issue?
A: While it’s inconvenient, this is a relatively minor issue that can be easily fixed by reinstalling the app. However, it’s a symptom of a larger problem with Windows 11’s stability and reliability.
