How to Disable Web Search in Windows 11 Search Bar

Windows 11 integrates Bing-powered web results directly into the taskbar search menu, which can clutter your search interface and slow down navigation to local files and installed applications. This guide provides step-by-step instructions to completely disable web search suggestions using the Windows Registry Editor or the Local Group Policy Editor, leaving you with a clean, local-only search experience.

Method 1: Use the Windows Registry Editor

This method works on all editions of Windows 11, including Windows 11 Home and Pro.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter (or click OK) to open the Registry Editor. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
3. In the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
4. Check if a folder named Explorer exists under the Windows key:
   • If it exists, click on it.
   • If it does not exist, right-click on the Windows folder, select New > Key, and name the key Explorer.
5. With the Explorer key selected, right-click inside the empty space in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it: DisableSearchBoxSuggestions
6. Double-click the newly created DisableSearchBoxSuggestions value, set its Value data to 1, and click OK.
7. Restart your computer or restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager to apply the changes.

Method 2: Use the Local Group Policy Editor

This method is available for Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
3. In the left sidebar, navigate to the following directory: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search
4. In the right pane, locate and configure the following policies:
   • Double-click Do not allow web search, set it to Enabled, and click OK.
   • Double-click Don’t search the web or display web results in Search, set it to Enabled, and click OK.
5. Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer to apply the policies.

How to Re-Enable Web Search Suggestions

If you decide to restore web search suggestions in the future:

• For Registry Editor: Navigate back to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer, double-click DisableSearchBoxSuggestions, change the value data to 0 (or delete the value entirely), and restart your PC.
• For Group Policy Editor: Navigate to the Search folder in Group Policy, open the modified policies, set them back to Not Configured, and restart your PC.