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feat(ai): closer parity with zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI -- safe additions only
Adds the easy-win zoicware items that fit our existing pattern (registry
toggle, service disable) without crossing into the drastic ones we
deliberately skipped (TrustedInstaller manipulation, CBS package removal,
IntegratedServicesRegionPolicySet.json patching, voiceaccess.exe deletion,
custom Windows Update blocker package, modern-app replacement).
Four new monitored AI policy toggles:
- SettingsSearchAiMonitor (ai.settingssearch)
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\DisableSearchBoxSuggestions=1
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\TaskbarCompanion=0
Hides AI search suggestions + the floating Copilot taskbar companion
widget. Indexing itself is untouched.
- AiActionsMonitor (ai.actions)
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\8\
1853569164\EnabledState=1
4098520719\EnabledState=1
Disables right-click AI Actions surface via the documented
FeatureManagement override hive (same feature IDs zoicware uses).
- InputInsightsMonitor (ai.inputinsights)
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\InputPersonalization\RestrictImplicitTextCollection=1
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\input\Settings\InsightsEnabled=0
Per-user opt-out of typing-data harvesting.
- OfficeCopilotMonitor (ai.office)
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\{Word,Excel}\Options\EnableCopilot=0
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\OneNote\Options\Copilot\CopilotEnabled=0
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\ai\training\general\disabletraining=1
Disables Copilot ribbon + model-training opt-out. ReadCurrent returns
null if Office isn't installed -- no-op on Office-less machines.
Four existing monitors extended with the additional zoicware keys:
- CopilotMonitor: blanks HKCU\...\Shell\BrandedKey\AppAumid (kills the
Win+C launch alias) + sets HKCU\...\BackgroundAccessApplications\
Microsoft.Copilot_8wekyb3d8bbwe\DisabledByUser=1 so the package can't
background-launch even if the UWP is still installed.
- RecallMonitor: adds HKLM\...\WindowsAI\TurnOffSavingSnapshots=1 as a
third disable knob (some Windows builds respect this but not the older
AllowRecallEnablement).
- EdgeAiMonitor: adds HKLM\...\Edge\ComposeInlineEnabled=0 and
AllowBrowsingWithCopilot=0 to cover the in-page Compose box and the
broader "browse with Copilot" workflow.
- NotepadPaintAiMonitor: adds HKCU\...\Applets\Paint\View\
IsSignedUpForTargetingService=0 (opts out of Paint experiment targeting)
and HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Paint\
DisableImageCreator=1 (machine-wide Paint policy so the disable holds
across user accounts and new Paint experiments).
ServiceCatalog adds AarSvc (Agent Activation Runtime Service), the per-user
agent runtime backing Copilot voice and certain shell AI surfaces. Fits the
existing service tab pattern; users would disable it alongside WSAIFabricSvc
after flipping the AI policy toggles. We disable the template service
definition (not sc.exe delete like zoicware) so the change is reversible
via Set-Service.
All defaults remain Windows-friendly: DesiredOn=true and Monitor=false on
every new pref, so existing config.json loads with zero behavior change.
SettingDocs gets Mechanism / VerifyCommand / ApplyCommand entries for every
new id; SettingDocsCatalog gets full rich-doc entries (What / Why /
HowItHelps / Scenarios / Recommended / Risks / ReversibleVia) so the in-app
Learn more expander and docs/SETTINGS-REFERENCE.md surface them the same
way as the original AI toggles. README updated to list the new toggles in
the Windows AI feature blurb.
Items deliberately not added (with rationale):
- AI Voice Effects (HKLM audio registry) -- requires TrustedInstaller
ownership change to write the audio key. Too invasive.
- Voice Access disable -- requires deleting voiceaccess.exe via
TrustedInstaller. Accessibility tool + file deletion = no.
- Gaming Copilot disable -- zoicware modifies profileDataSettings.txt in
the Game Bar package folder. JSON-in-app-data is fragile across updates.
- Photos AI flags -- live in Settings.dat binary blob. Reading/writing
LocalSettings.dat is undocumented and breaks across major Photos updates.
- HKCR\.copilot deletion -- global file extension change, blast radius
larger than the benefit.
- sc.exe delete WSAIFabricSvc / sc.exe delete AarSvc -- we Disable
startup type instead (reversible via Set-Service).
- LastConfiguration key deletion -- can break Windows AI initialization
on subsequent OS updates.
Tests: 133/133 passing (was 108). New tests cover GlobalPreferences having
all 9 AI toggles, every new settingId has Mechanism/Verify/Apply entries,
extended monitors list the new keys in their mechanism doc, AarSvc is in
ServiceCatalog. Catalog<->doc consistency test still passes after
regenerating SETTINGS-REFERENCE.md.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Copy file name to clipboardExpand all lines: README.md
+1-1Lines changed: 1 addition & 1 deletion
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@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ A curated catalog of services GamerGuardian can stop + disable (or set to Manual
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### Windows AI
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Policy-toggle disables for Copilot, Recall, Click-to-Do, Edge Copilot/Hubs/GenAI, and Notepad Rewrite / Paint AI. Optional one-way removal of Windows AI UWP packages (`Microsoft.Copilot`, `Microsoft.Windows.Ai.Copilot.Provider`, `MicrosoftWindows.Client.AIX`). Inspired by [zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI](https://github.com/zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI) but stays in the safe "policy toggle + service disable" lane -- every change is reversed by deleting the same registry value. Walk-through in the [Windows AI section of SETTINGS-REFERENCE.md](docs/SETTINGS-REFERENCE.md#windows-ai-policies).
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Policy-toggle disables for Copilot, Recall, Click-to-Do, Edge Copilot/Hubs/GenAI, Notepad Rewrite / Paint AI, Windows search AI suggestions, Windows AI Actions (right-click rewrite/summarize), typing-data harvesting, and Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word/Excel/OneNote. Optional one-way removal of Windows AI UWP packages (`Microsoft.Copilot`, `Microsoft.Windows.Ai.Copilot.Provider`, `MicrosoftWindows.Client.AIX`) and service disables for `WSAIFabricSvc` + `AarSvc`. Inspired by [zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI](https://github.com/zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI) but stays in the safe "policy toggle + service disable + opt-in UWP removal" lane -- every change is reversed by deleting the same registry value or re-enabling the service. Walk-through in the [Windows AI section of SETTINGS-REFERENCE.md](docs/SETTINGS-REFERENCE.md#windows-ai-policies).
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**Reversible via.** Delete DisableClickToDo from HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\ClickToDo.
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### Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word / Excel / OneNote
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`ai.office` **Recommended:** Off
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**What it does.** Disables the Copilot button + ribbon entries inside the desktop Word, Excel, and OneNote apps; also opts the machine out of Microsoft's AI model training on document contents (HKLM\Policies\office admin template).
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**Why you'd change it.** Microsoft 365 Copilot is opt-in by license, but the UI affordances still show up in every Word document; disabling cleanly removes them. The training opt-out is a separate policy that prevents document text from being used to train Microsoft's models even if a user happens to invoke Copilot.
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**How it helps.** No Copilot ribbon. No suggestions panel. No accidental cloud calls. No document-text contribution to model training.
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**Per-scenario recommendation:**
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| Scenario | Setting |
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|---|---|
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| Office user who doesn't have a Copilot license | Off -- the buttons are just dead weight |
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| Office user with Copilot license, occasional use | On (or selectively per app) |
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| Privacy-conscious / regulated workflows | Off |
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| Office not installed | Doesn't matter -- the toggle is a no-op |
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**Risks.** If you do have a Copilot license and want to use it, you lose the in-app entry points. Reverse by deleting the keys.
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**Reversible via.** Delete EnableCopilot from HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Options and Excel\Options, CopilotEnabled from HKCU\...\OneNote\Options\Copilot, and disabletraining from HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\ai\training\general.
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### Microsoft Edge Copilot / Hubs / GenAI
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`ai.edge` **Recommended:** Off
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`ai.notepadpaint` **Recommended:** Off
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**What it does.** Per-user disable of Notepad Rewrite, Paint Cocreator, Paint Image Creator, and Paint Generative Erase. All are HKCU registry writes -- no elevation needed.
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**What it does.** Per-user disable of Notepad Rewrite, Paint Cocreator, Paint Image Creator, and Paint Generative Erase. Plus a per-user opt-out of Paint's experiment-targeting service and the HKLM machine-wide Paint policy that stops Image Creator from offering itself before per-user toggle. Combined HKCU + HKLM writes.
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**Why you'd change it.** These features bolt cloud AI onto otherwise simple apps. Users who don't use the AI features may prefer Notepad and Paint without the buttons.
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**Why you'd change it.** These features bolt cloud AI onto otherwise simple apps. Users who don't use the AI features may prefer Notepad and Paint without the buttons. v0.1.39 added the targeting opt-out + HKLM policy so the disable holds across new Paint experiments rolling out under feature flags.
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**How it helps.** Notepad and Paint behave like classic versions; no AI action buttons; no cloud calls when you open a document or image.
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**How it helps.** Notepad and Paint behave like classic versions; no AI action buttons; no cloud calls when you open a document or image; no opt-in prompts when MS rolls out new AI experiments.
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**Per-scenario recommendation:**
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**Risks.** None. AI features disappear from those two apps.
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**Reversible via.** Delete the registry values under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Notepad (RewriteEnabled) and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Paint (DisableCocreator, DisableImageCreator, DisableGenerativeErase).
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**Reversible via.** Delete the registry values under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Notepad (RewriteEnabled), HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Paint (DisableCocreator, DisableImageCreator, DisableGenerativeErase), HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Paint\View (IsSignedUpForTargetingService), and HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Paint (DisableImageCreator).
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### Search box AI suggestions + taskbar companion
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`ai.settingssearch` **Recommended:** Off
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**What it does.** Two HKCU policies: DisableSearchBoxSuggestions (kills the AI/Copilot-flavored web suggestion layer in the Windows search box) and TaskbarCompanion (the floating Copilot widget Windows can dock next to the taskbar). HKCU only -- no UAC.
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**Why you'd change it.** The search box's AI suggestion layer calls Microsoft web endpoints to suggest answers as you type. The taskbar companion is a floating overlay some Windows 11 builds enable by default. Both are noise for users who use the search box for files and apps.
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**How it helps.** Search box returns local files / apps only -- no web suggestions, no Copilot answers inline, no taskbar companion widget. Indexing itself (Start menu, Explorer, Outlook) is untouched.
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**Per-scenario recommendation:**
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| Scenario | Setting |
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|---|---|
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| Anyone who uses Windows Search for local files only | Off |
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| Active user of search box web/Copilot suggestions | On |
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| Privacy-conscious | Off |
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**Risks.** You lose the web-suggestion layer and the taskbar companion. Search itself works exactly as before.
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**Reversible via.** Delete DisableSearchBoxSuggestions from HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer and TaskbarCompanion from HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
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### Typing / input insights data collection
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`ai.inputinsights` **Recommended:** Off
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**What it does.** Two HKCU settings that disable Windows' typing-data and ink-data harvesting: RestrictImplicitTextCollection (blocks the OS from saving the plain text you type for personalized suggestions) and InsightsEnabled (the per-user master switch in the Input settings panel). HKCU only -- no UAC.
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**Why you'd change it.** By default, Windows builds a per-user typing model from text you've typed in apps. That data feeds personalized suggestions, autocorrect, and (in some Insider builds) AI features. Users who don't want their typing harvested can opt out at the OS level.
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**How it helps.** Stops the OS from saving samples of what you type. Personalized typing suggestions degrade slightly (Windows falls back to the global suggestion model); everything else works as normal.
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**Per-scenario recommendation:**
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| Scenario | Setting |
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|---|---|
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| Privacy-conscious | Off |
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| Anyone who doesn't notice typing suggestions getting better over time | Off |
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| Active user of personalized typing suggestions on a touch keyboard | On |
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**Risks.** Typing suggestions become slightly less personalized over time. No effect on autocorrect or basic spell-check.
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**Reversible via.** Delete RestrictImplicitTextCollection from HKCU\Software\Microsoft\InputPersonalization and InsightsEnabled from HKCU\Software\Microsoft\input\Settings.
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### Windows AI Actions
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`ai.actions` **Recommended:** Off
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**What it does.** Windows' shell-level AI Actions surface (right-click "rewrite with AI / summarize / search the web for this" on selected text, images, etc.). Toggled via the FeatureManagement override hive -- two numeric feature IDs (1853569164 and 4098520719) get EnabledState = 1 (force-disabled).
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**Why you'd change it.** AI Actions is a 24H2-era Windows feature that adds AI suggestions to right-click menus and similar surfaces. The FeatureManagement override is the documented kill switch (zoicware uses the same IDs).
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**How it helps.** Right-click menus, image picker dialogs, and other shell surfaces stop showing AI action options. No cloud calls when you right-click an image or selected text.
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**Per-scenario recommendation:**
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| Scenario | Setting |
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|---|---|
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| Anyone who doesn't use AI right-click actions | Off |
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| Active user of AI Actions | On |
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| Privacy-conscious | Off |
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**Risks.** You lose the AI options in right-click / image-context menus. The right-click menus themselves still work for everything else.
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**Reversible via.** Delete EnabledState from HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\8\1853569164 and 4098520719. Feature IDs may change in future Windows builds -- if you see new AI Actions surfaces after a Windows Update, GamerGuardian's existing overrides will still hold for these two but new feature IDs would need a new monitor entry.
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### Windows Copilot
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## Windows services
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### Agent Activation Runtime Service
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`service:AarSvc` **Recommended:** Default (Manual) -- only Disable if you've also flipped the AI policy toggles + disabled WSAIFabricSvc
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**What it does.** Per-user service that backs Windows AI agent activations -- the runtime Copilot voice, Cortana legacy hooks, and certain shell AI surfaces call into when they want to launch in the background.
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**Why you'd change it.** Like WSAIFabricSvc, this service is paired with the Windows AI policy toggles. If you've disabled Copilot, Recall, etc. at the policy level, AarSvc has nothing useful to do; if any AI feature is still enabled, leave it on.
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**How it helps.** Removes a per-user service backing AI features you've already disabled. Pairs naturally with WSAIFabricSvc + the Windows AI policy toggles.
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**Per-scenario recommendation:**
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| Scenario | Setting |
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| Competitive FPS | Default (Manual) -- only Disable if you've also flipped the AI policy toggles + disabled WSAIFabricSvc |
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| Streaming + game | Default (Manual) -- only Disable if you've also flipped the AI policy toggles + disabled WSAIFabricSvc |
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| Casual single-player | Default (Manual) -- only Disable if you've also flipped the AI policy toggles + disabled WSAIFabricSvc |
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| Productivity / mixed-use | Default (Manual) -- only Disable if you've also flipped the AI policy toggles + disabled WSAIFabricSvc |
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**Risks.** Per-user services use a generated suffix on the actual service name (AarSvc_<hex>). GamerGuardian disables the template definition so every new per-user instance starts disabled, but existing user sessions may need a logoff/logon to pick up the change. If you re-enable any AI feature later, it will fail to launch until you re-enable this service.
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