How to Disable Windows Web Search Windows 10 or 11 – Enterprise or Pro Editions. Microsoft enables many features favorable to their finance department but of questionable favorability for you and I. Microsoft does provide some minimal control of Search options in Settings (in my experience these settings may magically revert or change with future upgrades). To take more control you can edit Local Group Policy via gpedit.msc to clear your Search bar of web based results and ads.
This is what my Search bar has brought me today – Purple Toast, along with several other purple things. I’m not sure what brought this on. I actually wanted to search my computer for an image I took of my mother.
Steps to disable Bing search, it’s suggested content and ads in the main Search box. Works in Windows 10 & 11.
- Click Search bar/icon on the taskbar – be amazed at the useless content. “Have you tried purple toast?” SMH
- Launch GPedit.msc as Administrator
- Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search
- In the Search Folder – Enable:
- Do not allow web search (Enabled)
- Don’t search the web or display web results in Search (enabled)
- No more Purple toast!
