Copilot in Word & Excel — What It Does, What It Costs, How to Turn It Off
Last verified: October 2026
Microsoft's AI helper can draft, summarize, and assist — but it's optional, limited, and switch-off-able. What it does, what it costs, and how to turn it off. Rather have a hand? My number is (330) 200-8042.
Copilot in Word and Excel, at a Glance
Microsoft has built an AI assistant called Copilot into Word and Excel. It can draft, rewrite and summarize in Word, and suggest formulas, explain sheets and spot trends in Excel — you ask in plain English and it produces a draft to check. On the newer Personal and Family plans it's included (largely why those prices rose), with a monthly usage allowance; heavy use needs the paid Copilot Pro add-on. It's entirely optional — you can turn it off (File > Options > Copilot) — and you should always verify what it writes, as it can be confidently wrong. Prices and limits change, so check Microsoft's current details. This guide covers it plainly, and there's a printable 29-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 What does Copilot do?
It's an AI helper built into Office. In Word it can draft, rewrite and summarize; in Excel it can suggest formulas, explain a sheet and spot trends. You ask in plain English and it produces a draft to check.
2 What does it cost?
It's included in the newer Personal and Family plans — which cost more partly because of it — with a monthly usage allowance. Heavier use needs Copilot Pro, a paid add-on (around $20/month, as of this writing; check the current price).
3 How do I turn Copilot off?
In each program: File > Options > Copilot > uncheck 'Enable Copilot', then restart the app. On a Mac, use the app's Preferences. If the toggle's missing, turn off connected experiences under Account Privacy.
4 Do I have to use it?
No. It's entirely optional and can be switched off completely. Word and Excel work fully without it, exactly as before.
5 Can I trust what it writes?
Treat it as a draft, not gospel. It can state wrong facts, figures or dates confidently, so always read and verify anything it produces — especially money, health, legal, or dates.
6 What if I don't want to pay for the AI?
Look at a lower-cost 'Classic' plan without Copilot, or a free option like LibreOffice that has no AI at all. Don't pay a premium for an assistant you won't use — see our which-plan guide.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
Whether you're eager to try Copilot wisely or you'd rather make it vanish, I'll set Office up to match how you feel — no hype, no pressure, and a plain answer to whether it's worth it for you. $99 flat for a visit, or $49 on-screen, 30-day come-back-free.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).