Microsoft Teams: Disable Copilot and Facilitator during a meeting

The new toggle controls the meeting AI in Microsoft Teams.

Following criticism of the AI’s eavesdropping capabilities, Microsoft is adding a toggle switch to Teams meetings. Organizers and presenters can now turn Copilot, Facilitator, and Recap on and off in the middle of a conversation. The rollout is underway, with widespread availability planned by the end of July. There’s still a catch when it comes to transcription.

Steffen Zahn (translated by Steffen Zahn), Published 07/13/2026 🇩🇪

Microsoft AI Software Business

Microsoft is giving users back control over artificial intelligence in Teams meetings. A new toggle directly in the meeting bar allows licensed organizers and presenters to turn the meeting AI, called Microsoft Meeting AI, on and off during an ongoing conversation. This applies to the assistant Copilot, the proactive AI Facilitator, and the automatic Recap. This change was prompted by frustration with the Facilitator, which listens in on meetings and makes unsolicited suggestions.

What the new toggle does

The toggle appears in the meeting toolbar as soon as the AI is permitted by company policy. A status indicator shows all participants whether the AI is currently active. You can control this flexibly: turn everything on, turn everything off, or individually disable only Copilot and Recap while keeping the Facilitator. If the AI is off, Teams no longer generates Copilot responses, Facilitator prompts, or notes. Content that has already been created is retained and is subject to the normal retention rules. The setting applies to each new meeting.

The catch with transcription

One detail is important when it comes to data protection. AI and transcription are linked. If someone turns on the AI, transcription, including Recap, starts automatically. The reverse is also true. Anyone who starts transcription automatically activates the AI and Recap as well. So a meeting is truly AI-free only if both features are turned off. Turning off the AI while letting transcription continue isn’t enough.

Who gets it and when

The feature is official and listed in the Microsoft 365 Roadmap under ID 558286. However, it won’t be available to every Teams user. A license for Teams Premium or Microsoft 365 Copilot is required, and only organizers and presenters can use the toggle. The launch, originally planned for June, has been postponed. The rollout is currently underway: The first accounts will receive the toggle in mid-July, and broad global availability is scheduled for the end of July 2026. It is available on Windows, Mac, the web, and on Android and iOS. For sensitive meetings, it’s worth checking both features, AI and transcription, before the conversation begins.