Disable Edge Copilot and Hubs Sidebar
- Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- Impact: High
System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: High
This action improves privacy with high impact when you run the recommended script.
- Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
- Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
This script enhances your privacy and system performance by disabling multiple linked features in Microsoft Edge.
This script primarily disables the Hubs Sidebar. This is a launcher bar on the right side of Microsoft Edge's screen 1. By default, the Sidebar is visible 1, but running this script will permanently hide it 1.
Disabling the Hubs Sidebar also deactivates the following features:
- Copilot in Edge: This feature was known as Bing Chat 2, Discover in Edge 3 4, Bing Discover 3, Discover app 5, Discover experience 4, or simply Discover 3 4. It collects personal data including URLs, page titles, user queries, browsing context, and conversation histories 6 7. It enables the discovery of content relevant to the page you are browsing, such as summaries and source information 4. Disabling the Hubs Sidebar is the recommended method to also disable Copilot in Edge 4 8. Disabling it stops this data collection, improving your privacy.
- Sidebar apps: Disabling the Hubs Sidebar also deactivates all sidebar apps 5. This script disables also the sidebar in Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) 5. This script prevents all sidebar apps from being activated 5.
- Standalone Sidebar: Disabling the Hubs Sidebar also turns off any standalone sidebar modes 9. This mode displays the Sidebar in a fixed position on the desktop, separate from the browser frame 9. Disabling this reduces background resource usage, thereby optimizing system performance 10.
The script configures the following Edge policies:
Edge policy | Affected Edge versions |
---|---|
HubsSidebarEnabled 1 3 5 8 11 | Edge ≥ 99 1 |
StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled 9 10 | Edge ≥ 88 and ≤ 119 9 |
The new settings will take effect after you restart the browser 5.
- This will display the message "Your browser is managed by your organization" on the settings page.
- This locks settings and prevents them from being changed on the settings page.
This script should only be used by advanced users.
This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality.
Consider creating a system restore point before doing any changes.
Sources
- Microsoft Edge Browser Policy Documentation. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-policies
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240517212443/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-policies#hubssidebarenabled - Our vision to bring Microsoft Copilot to everyone, and more. Bing Search Blog. blogs.bing.com. (2024).
Original: https://blogs.bing.com/search/november-2023/our-vision-to-bring-microsoft-copilot-to-everyone-and-more
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240623213328/https://blogs.bing.com/search/november-2023/our-vision-to-bring-microsoft-copilot-to-everyone-and-more - Copilot or Discover browser extension not working as expected for managed Edge browser - Microsoft Community Hub. techcommunity.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/discussions/copilot-or-discover-browser-extension-not-working-as-expected/m-p/4097297
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240328062746/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/discussions/copilot-or-discover-browser-extension-not-working-as-expected/m-p/4097297 - Archived release notes for Microsoft Edge Beta Channel. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-relnote-archive-beta-channel
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240101215939/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-relnote-archive-beta-channel - Manage the sidebar in Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-sidebar
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240519104338/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-sidebar#allow-or-block-the-sidebar-in-group-policy - Microsoft Edge Privacy Whitepaper - Microsoft Edge Developer documentation. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/privacy-whitepaper
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240623123514/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/privacy-whitepaper/#shopping - Copilot in Edge. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/edge
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240519104435/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/edge#data-used-by--in-edge - Copilot in Edge. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/edge
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240519104435/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/edge#manage--in-edge - Microsoft Edge Browser Policy Documentation. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-policies
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240517212443/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-policies#standalonehubssidebarenabled - Microsoft Edge running in the background - Microsoft Community. answers.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftedge/forum/all/microsoft-edge-running-in-the-background/b827d6dc-8853-4258-a2e1-a760e93df561
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240519104546/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftedge/forum/all/microsoft-edge-running-in-the-background/b827d6dc-8853-4258-a2e1-a760e93df561 - Manage Copilot in Windows - Windows Client Management. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/manage-windows-copilot
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240122064120/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/manage-windows-copilot
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:: Configure "HubsSidebarEnabled" Edge policy
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge!HubsSidebarEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'; $data = '0'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' /v 'HubsSidebarEnabled' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Configure "StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled" Edge policy
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge!StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'; $data = '0'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' /v 'StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Suggest restarting Edge for changes to take effect
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$message = 'For the changes to fully take effect, please restart Microsoft Edge.'; $warn = $false; if ($warn) { Write-Warning "^""$message"^""; } else { Write-Host "^""Note: "^"" -ForegroundColor Blue -NoNewLine; Write-Output "^""$message"^""; }"
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About the Creators
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- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.