Disable Bing Search in Windows Start Menu Using Regedit

Windows integrates Bing-powered web results directly into the Start menu search bar, which can clutter local queries and consume system resources. This guide explains how to disable Bing search integration in Windows 10 and Windows 11 using the Registry Editor (Regedit), allowing your Start menu to return strictly local search results for files, apps, and settings.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit into the field and press Enter (or click OK).
  3. Select Yes when prompted by the User Account Control (UAC) dialog.

Step 2: Navigate to the Explorer Policy Key

  1. In the Registry Editor address bar at the top, paste the following path and press Enter:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

  2. If the Explorer folder (key) does not exist under Windows:

    • Right-click the Windows key.
    • Select New > Key.
    • Name the new key Explorer.

Step 3: Create the DWORD Value

  1. Click on the Explorer key on the left sidebar to open it.

  2. Right-click anywhere in the empty space in the right pane.

  3. Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

  4. Name the new value:

    DisableSearchBoxSuggestions

  5. Double-click DisableSearchBoxSuggestions, set the Value data to 1, and ensure the Base is set to Hexadecimal.

  6. Click OK.

Step 4: Apply the Changes

To apply the registry changes immediately without restarting your entire computer:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Locate Windows Explorer in the list of active processes.
  3. Right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.

Once the process restarts, open the Start menu and type a query. The search will now exclusively look for local applications, files, and system settings, with all Bing web suggestions completely disabled.