On Windows 11, it’s possible to disable web results when searching in the Start menu or Search box in the Taskbar, and in this guide, I will outline the steps to complete this process.
Whenever you search for anything using the Windows Search box or Start menu, if the system can’t find a match for a document, picture, video, setting, or app, you will get a list of web results suggestions from Bing. If you click one of the links, the page will open in Microsoft Edge. Also, if you click the Bing AI button, the query will open on the browser with Copilot on the web.
Although this may be a helpful feature, it’s not for everyone, and the problem is that the system does not provide an option to disable web results or the Bing AI button from the interface. However, you can turn off these web suggestions, search highlights, and remove the Bing AI button using the Group Policy Editor or Registry.
If the device is running Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, the easiest way to turn off search suggestions is to use the Group Policy Editor to enable the policy that disables the feature. Otherwise, if you use Windows 11 Home, the Group Policy Editor won’t be available, but you can use the Registry Editor.
Warning: It’s important to note that modifying the Windows Registry can cause serious problems if not used properly. It’s assumed you know what you’re doing and have created a full backup of your system before proceeding.
To disable web search and remove the Bing AI button from the Registry on Windows 11 (Home or Pro), use these steps:
- Open Start on Windows 11.
- Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry Editor.
- Browse to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows
- Right-click the Windows key, select the New menu, and choose the Key option.
- Name the key Explorer and press Enter (if applicable).
- Right-click the newly created key, select the New menu, and choose the “DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.
- Name the DWORD DisableSearchBoxSuggestions and press Enter.
- Double-click the newly created key and change its value from 0 to 1.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart the computer.
After you complete the steps, Windows Search will no longer offer web results, and the Bing AI button will be removed from the interface. However, the search experience will continue to offer results for files, apps, and settings.
If you want to revert the changes, open the Registry, and in the HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsExplorer path, right-click the “DisableSearchBoxSuggestions” DWORD, and select the “Delete” option.
Disable web search results on Windows 11 from Group Policy
To disable web search on Windows 11 (Pro) from Group Policy, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for gpedit and click the top result to open the Group Policy Editor.
- Browse to the following path:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer
- Double-click the “Turn off display of recent search entries in the File Explorer search box” policy.
- Select the Enabled option.
- Click the Apply button.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart the computer.
Once you complete the steps, you will no longer see web results when using Windows Search from the Taskbar or Start menu. In addition, this method will also remove the Bing AI button from the interface.
If you want to revert the changes, you can use the same instructions outlined above, but in step 5, select the “Not Configured” option.