Disable Bing Web Search in the Windows Start Menu (Registry)
Stop Start menu searches from sending your queries to Bing and showing web results.
Run `reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v DisableSearchBoxSuggestions /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f`, then sign out and back in.
01Command
Command
$ reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v DisableSearchBoxSuggestions /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f02What it does
By default, typing in the Windows 11 Start menu sends your search text to Bing and blends web results into the list — slow, noisy, and a privacy concern for some. Microsoft ships an official policy called DisableSearchBoxSuggestions that cuts off web suggestions entirely, leaving only local apps, files, and settings. Setting it via HKCU Policies applies it to your account without admin rights.
03Risk
!Warning: After this, searching anything not on the PC shows no web results at all — use a browser for that. On some editions, deleting the value again restores the default behavior.
04Undo
Undo
$ reg delete "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v DisableSearchBoxSuggestions /f05Sources
- Policy CSP - ADMX_StartMenu | Microsoft LearnEvidence: Documents the DisableSearchBoxSuggestions policy: 'Prevents searching the web when you search in the search box' — setting value 1 disables web search suggestions.
Last verified: 2026-09-18 · Category: Security & Privacy