How to Disable Cortana’s Web Search in Windows 10

Modify Registry DWORDs to manage Cortana’s web search

2 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Cortanamixes its web search with its file search. Thus, when you enter a keyword in the search box,Cortanawill throw up both matching files and Bing web search suggestions.

Some users preferred to disableCortana‘sBingweb search with the Group Policy Editor settings inWindows 10 Proand Enterprise.

However, theApril 2018 Updatebroke theDo not allow web searchGroup Policy setting forWindows 10 Prouses.

Although that option still works for Enterprise users, selectingDo not allow web searchinWindows 10 Prodoesn’t switch offCortana‘sBingsearch after the April 2018 Update.

This is how you can still block the Cortana web searches inWindows 10 Proand other editions that don’t include the Group Policy Editor.

How can I disable Cortana web searches on Windows 10?

1. Edit the Registry

Managing Cortana web searches in the Registry Editor is very easy and can be done by anyone. Firstly, you need to create BingSearchEnabled, CortanaConsent, and AllowSearchToUseLocation DWORDs in your Registry.

After, enter 1 in both their Value data boxes to enable the Cortana web search, while a 0 data value for the BingSearchEnabled and the AllowSearchToUseLocation DWORDs turns off the Cortana web search.

1. Open Run by pressing the Windows key + X hotkey and selectingRun.

2.Enterregeditin Run to open theRegistry Editor.

3.Then open this key path in the Registry Editor:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search.

4.Right-click an empty space on the right of the window and selectNew>DWORD (32-bit) Value. Then enterBingSearchEnabledfor the DWORD name.

SelectDWORD (32-bit) Valueon the context menu again to set up a newAllowSearchToUseLocationDWORD.
Choose aDWORD (32-bit) Valueto set up aCortanaConsentDWORD if the registry does not already include that DWORD value.
Then you should have two or three new DWORD values in the Search key as shown directly below.
Double-click those DWORDs one by one to open their Edit DWORD windows.

9.TheBingSearchEnabledandAllowSearchToUseLocationDWORDs turn off Cortana‘s web search when you configure their value data to 0 (which is the default value).

If you ever want to enable Cortana’s web search back on, enter 1 in their Value data boxes.

2. Turn Off Bing Web Searches With WinAero Tweaker

WinAero Tweaker is a greatfreeware customization programforWindows 10, 8 and 7. That program includes aDisable web search in taskbar and Cortanaoption that you can select to turn off theBingweb search. So instead of editing theregistryas outlined above, you can select that WinAero Tweaker option as follows.

Microsoft might bring out an update sometime that fixes the Do not allow web search Group Policy option inWindows 10 Pro. However, for now, you can blockCortana‘s web searches with WinAero Tweaker or by manually editing theregistry.

We hope that this article helped you. If you have any questions, write them in the comments section below.

How to Disable Cortana’s Web Search in Windows 10#

How can I disable Cortana web searches on Windows 10?#

1. Edit the Registry#

2. Turn Off Bing Web Searches With WinAero Tweaker#

How to Disable Cortana’s Web Search in Windows 10

How can I disable Cortana web searches on Windows 10?

1. Edit the Registry

2. Turn Off Bing Web Searches With WinAero Tweaker