When you type an email in the new Outlook, Copilot may suggest phrases, sentences, or even full paragraphs as you write. These suggestions appear as gray text that you can accept by pressing Tab or clicking. Some users find these interruptions distracting or prefer to draft messages without AI help. This article explains how to turn off Copilot suggestions specifically in the new mail compose window in Outlook for Microsoft 365.
Key Takeaways: Disabling Copilot Suggestions in Outlook Compose
- Outlook > File > Options > Mail > Copilot: Uncheck “Show suggestions while composing” to stop inline suggestions.
- Outlook > Compose window > Copilot icon: Click the Copilot icon in the compose toolbar and toggle off “Suggestions” for a session-level disable.
- Microsoft 365 admin center > Copilot settings: Admins can disable Copilot suggestions for all users in the tenant via the Copilot configuration policy.
Why Copilot Suggests Text While You Compose
Copilot in Outlook uses a language model trained on your email context and general writing patterns. When you begin typing a sentence, Copilot predicts the next few words and displays them as faded text. This feature is designed to speed up drafting by reducing repetitive typing. It is enabled by default in the new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web for users with a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license.
The suggestion engine analyzes the subject line, previous messages in the thread, and your writing style. It does not use data from outside your Microsoft 365 environment unless you have connected external data sources. The suggestions appear only in the compose window, not in reading pane or calendar items. You can accept a suggestion with the Tab key, reject it by continuing to type, or ignore it entirely.
Some users prefer to disable suggestions because they find the gray text visually cluttered or because they want to compose messages without AI interference. The setting to disable suggestions is separate from the main Copilot toggle, so you can keep other Copilot features active while turning off inline drafting help.
Steps to Disable Copilot Suggestions in the Compose Window
You can disable Copilot suggestions through the Outlook options menu. This change applies to all new messages you compose afterward. Follow these steps:
- Open Outlook options
In the new Outlook for Windows, click File in the top-left corner, then select Options from the left navigation pane. In Outlook on the web, click the gear icon in the top-right corner and choose View all Outlook settings. - Navigate to Mail settings
In the Options dialog, click Mail in the left sidebar. In Outlook on the web, select Mail from the settings categories. - Locate Copilot settings
Scroll down to the Copilot section. In the desktop app, it appears under the Compose and Reply heading. In the web version, look for a section labeled Copilot or Suggestions. - Uncheck the suggestion option
Uncheck the box labeled Show suggestions while composing or Show suggestions while I type. The exact wording may vary slightly between Outlook versions. - Save and test
Click OK in the desktop app or Save in Outlook on the web. Open a new message compose window and start typing. Copilot suggestions should no longer appear.
Disable Suggestions for One Session Using the Copilot Icon
If you want to turn off suggestions only for a single email without changing the global setting, use the Copilot icon inside the compose window:
- Open a new compose window
Click New Mail or reply to an existing message. - Locate the Copilot icon
In the compose toolbar, find the Copilot icon. It looks like a sparkle or a small diamond with the Copilot logo. - Toggle off suggestions
Click the icon and select Suggestions from the dropdown menu. Click the toggle to turn it off. This disables suggestions for that compose session only. The next new message will have suggestions enabled again.
If Copilot Suggestions Still Appear After Disabling
In some cases, the setting may not take effect immediately. Check the following scenarios:
Copilot Suggestions Still Appear After Restarting Outlook
The option to disable suggestions is stored per user profile. If you use multiple Outlook profiles such as work and personal, you must disable suggestions in each profile separately. To verify, switch to the other profile by clicking File > Account Settings > Change Profile, then repeat the steps above.
Copilot Suggestions Appear in Outlook on the Web but Not in Desktop App
The setting is not synchronized between the desktop app and the web version. You must disable suggestions in each client independently. For Outlook on the web, go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Copilot and uncheck the suggestion option.
Group Policy Overrides the User Setting
If your organization enforces Copilot settings via Group Policy or the Microsoft 365 admin center, the user-level option may be grayed out or ignored. Contact your IT administrator to change the policy. Admins can disable Copilot suggestions for all users in the Microsoft 365 admin center > Settings > Org settings > Copilot by configuring the Copilot compose suggestions policy.
Copilot Suggestions vs Copilot Draft with Prompt: Key Differences
| Item | Suggestions (Inline) | Draft with Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Automatic as you type | Manual click on Copilot icon |
| Output | Short phrase or sentence | Full paragraph or email body |
| Control | Accept with Tab, reject by typing | Edit, rewrite, or discard the draft |
| Disable method | Options > Mail > Copilot > uncheck suggestions | No per-user disable; remove Copilot license |
What to Do After Disabling Suggestions
Once you disable inline suggestions, you can still use Copilot to draft emails by clicking the Copilot icon in the compose toolbar and selecting Draft with Copilot. This gives you a full draft based on a prompt you write, without automatic inline predictions. You can also use Copilot to summarize an email thread or suggest a reply by right-clicking a message and choosing Suggest a reply. If you later want to re-enable suggestions, follow the same steps and check the box again. For administrators, disabling suggestions at the tenant level ensures a consistent experience for all users while keeping other Copilot features available.