According to XDA-Developers, Microsoft has implemented a change in recent Windows 11 Dev and Beta builds, specifically noted in build 26220.7344 from December 5, 2025. The update addresses a persistent user complaint: the “AI Actions” section in File Explorer’s right-click menu would not disappear even if every single AI tool was disabled. Previously, it would remain visible and simply state “no suitable tools” when hovered over. Now, Microsoft confirms that if all available AI Actions are disabled, the entire menu section will be hidden. This follows reporting by Windows Latest on the issue in early December 2025.
A small but significant retreat
Here’s the thing: this feels like a very specific, tactical retreat for Microsoft. For months, that stubborn, grayed-out menu item was a constant, low-grade reminder that Copilot was there, waiting. It was a digital nudge. You could argue it was a bug, but come on—it felt deliberate. The whole philosophy behind Windows 11‘s recent direction has been agentic, pushing AI into your workflow whether you asked for it or not. So, removing that visual placeholder is a genuine concession. It means if you truly, actively do not want AI in your right-click menu, you can make it go away. That’s a win for user agency, however minor.
Don’t celebrate the war just yet
But let’s not get carried away. I think this is less about Microsoft embracing user choice and more about smoothing the onboarding path. Think about it. For the average user who’s maybe curious about AI, seeing a dead, gray menu item is confusing and makes the feature look broken. It’s bad UX. Hiding it when it’s fully disabled is cleaner. It also lets Microsoft reintroduce it more cleanly later with a promotional nudge or a settings toggle. The pressure to integrate Copilot deeper into the OS isn’t going away; if anything, it’s accelerating. This change just makes the push slightly less clumsy.
The bigger picture of forced integration
This whole saga is a tiny window into the massive platform power companies like Microsoft wield. They can decide what’s permanently etched into your interface. When your workflow depends on an operating system, these aren’t just preferences—they’re constraints on how you work. And while this particular battle might be over, the campaign is clearly ongoing. Microsoft is betting the company on AI, and Copilot will find its way into more corners of Windows, probably with fewer options to completely excise it. For now, enjoy the small victory. You can make the menu vanish. Just don’t be surprised if it, or something like it, finds a new way to come back.
