Microsoft has removed the Copilot name from its Windows 11 Notepad app in the latest Insider build, renaming the AI features to 'Writing tools.' The change affects branding but keeps the generative writing functions intact. Similar updates appear in the Snipping Tool.
In the Windows 11 Insider version 11.2512.28.0, released this week, the Notepad app no longer displays the Copilot logo or branding. Previously, users could access generative AI help via a button offering options like writing from scratch, rewriting text, and adjusting tone. Now labeled 'Writing tools,' the features remain the same, and Copilot references have been removed from the app's settings, shifting them to an Advanced Features section, as first reported by CNET. Microsoft has not commented on the changes. Reports from March indicated the company was already scaling back aggressive Copilot integration across Windows 11. Other sources note that AI features have vanished entirely from the Snipping Tool in this build. These updates are limited to Insider previews; standard Windows 11 versions still show Copilot branding. The moves come amid widespread backlash against AI tools like Copilot on platforms such as Reddit, reflecting low popularity of AI in the US in 2026. TechRadar described the effort as a possible rebranding to reduce criticism, with some users saying it does not go far enough.
