Registry Location for Explorer Search Scopes

This guide explains where to locate and manage registered search scope providers for Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer within the Windows Registry Editor (Regedit). You will find the exact registry paths for both current user profiles and system-wide configurations, along with explanations of the key values used to define each search provider.

Primary Registry Locations for Search Scopes

Windows stores registered search scope providers under the SearchScopes registry keys. Depending on whether a search provider was installed for the active user or across the entire system, it will be located in one of the following paths:

1. Current User (Per-User Providers)

For search providers registered specifically to the currently logged-in user account:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes

2. Local Machine (System-Wide Providers)

For search providers registered globally for all user accounts on the machine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes

3. 32-bit Providers on 64-bit Windows (WOW6432Node)

If you are running a 64-bit version of Windows and looking for search scopes configured for 32-bit applications:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes

Understanding the Search Scope Structure

When you expand the SearchScopes key in Regedit, you will see subkeys named with unique GUIDs (Globally Unique Identifiers), such as {0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}. Each GUID folder represents an individual registered search provider.

Selecting a GUID subkey reveals the following primary values:

• DisplayName: The readable name of the search provider (e.g., Bing, Google).
• URL: The URL template used to send search queries, including query parameter placeholders such as {searchTerms}.
• FaviconURL: The web address for the search provider’s icon.
• SuggestionsURL: The endpoint used for search auto-complete and suggestions.

Identifying the Default Search Provider

Under the parent SearchScopes key, you will find a string value named DefaultScope. The data value assigned to DefaultScope contains the GUID matching the specific subkey of the currently active default search provider.