Set File Explorer Search Provider Using Regedit

This guide explains how system administrators can configure or customize the search provider behavior for the Windows File Explorer search bar using the Registry Editor (Regedit). By managing specific Windows Search policy and Explorer registry keys, administrators can define enterprise search paths, control web integration, and deploy customized search connector parameters across client machines.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter.
  3. Click Yes when prompted by User Account Control (UAC).

Step 2: Navigate to the Windows Search Policies Key

To enforce search provider settings machine-wide, navigate to the administrative policy registry path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

Note: If the Windows Search key does not exist under Windows, right-click the Windows folder, select New > Key, and name it Windows Search.

Step 3: Configure Default Search Parameters

Inside the Windows Search key, administrators can configure values to define how the Explorer search bar handles queries:

  1. Disable Cloud and Web Search Fallback (Local Explorer Search Only):
    • Right-click the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    • Name the value: DisableWebSearch
    • Double-click it and set the Value data to 1.
    • Create another DWORD named ConnectedSearchUseWeb and set its Value data to 0.
  2. Restrict Search to Specified Scopes:
    • Right-click and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    • Name the value: PreventIndexingLowDiskSpaceMB or AllowCortana (set to 0 to disable Cortana-driven search provider overrides).

Step 4: Configure Federated Search Connectors (Optional)

To route File Explorer searches to a custom enterprise provider, administrators deploy OpenSearch connector definitions (.searchconnector-ms files) via the registry:

  1. Navigate to:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Search\SearchEngines

  2. Create a new subkey with the identifier of your custom search provider.

  3. Under this subkey, create a String Value (REG_SZ) named SearchLocation and set the path to your federated search connector XML/OSDX location.

Step 5: Apply the Changes

For the registry modifications to take effect:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
  2. Locate Windows Explorer under the Processes tab.
  3. Right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.
  4. Alternatively, log off and log back into the Windows user account.