Все способы:
- Отключение поиска в Windows 10
- Вариант 1: Служба поиска
- Вариант 2: Визуальное отображение
- Вариант 3: Процесс «SearchUI.exe»
- Вариант 4: Групповая политика
- Вопросы и ответы: 1
Многие функции в Windows 10 можно деактивировать с целью получения большей производительности. К ним также относится встроенная служба поиска. В настоящей инструкции мы рассмотрим процедуру отключения всех связанных процессов и визуальных элементов поиска в данной ОС.
Отключение поиска в Windows 10
В отличие от предшествующих версий Виндовс 10 предоставляет несколько вариантов поиска информации на ПК. Практически каждую связанную систему можно деактивировать через настройки.
Читайте также: Способы поиска в ОС Windows 10
Вариант 1: Служба поиска
Наиболее простой вариант отключения поиска, применимый не только к Windows 10, но и более ранним версиям ОС, заключается в деактивации системной службы «Windows Search». Сделать это можно в специальном разделе без требований к дополнительным правам доступа. В результате из списка запущенных задач исчезнет процесс «SearchIndexer.exe», нередко нагружающий процессор даже во время простоя компьютера.
- Кликните правой кнопкой мыши по логотипу Виндовс на панели задач и выберите пункт «Управление компьютером».
- В левой области окна найдите раздел «Службы и приложения». Разверните его и кликните по параметру «Службы».
- Здесь необходимо найти «Windows Search». Данная служба по умолчанию включена и настроена на автозапуск при перезагрузке ПК.
- Кликните правой кнопкой мыши по этой строке и выберите пункт «Свойства». Можно также воспользоваться двойным нажатием ЛКМ.
- На вкладке «Общие» с помощью выпадающего списка «Тип запуска» установите значение «Отключена».
- Кликните по кнопке «Остановить» и проследите, чтобы в строке «Состояние» появилась соответствующая подпись. После этого можно нажать кнопку «ОК» для закрытия окна и завершения рассматриваемой процедуры.
Для применения изменений на ПК перезагрузка не требуется. Вследствие отключения данной службы поиск станет невозможен в некоторых программах и приложениях. Кроме того, будут заметные проблемы со скоростью глобального поиска по компьютеру из-за деактивации индексирования.
Вариант 2: Визуальное отображение
По умолчанию после установки Windows 10 на панели задач отображается логотип или поле поиска, при использовании которого в списке результатов отображаются совпадения не только на ПК, но и в интернете. Данный элемент можно отключить, например, с целью экономии пространства для закрепленных или запущенных программ.
- В любом свободном месте на панели задач щелкните ПКМ и выберите пункт «Поиск».
- Из появившегося перечня выберите один из вариантов. Для полного исключения элемента необходимо установить галочку рядом с пунктом «Скрыто».
После этих действий значок или поле поиска исчезнет, а потому инструкцию можно завершить.
Вариант 3: Процесс «SearchUI.exe»
Помимо системной службы поиска, также существует процесс «SearchUI.exe», напрямую относящийся к встроенному голосовому помощнику Windows 10 и ранее рассмотренному полю на панели задач. Его невозможно деактивировать обычными методами через «Диспетчер задач» или «Службы». Однако можно прибегнуть к использованию программы Unlocker, позволяющей вносить изменения в системные файлы.
Скачать Unlocker
- Прежде всего скачайте и установите программу на ПК. После этого в контекстном меню, при щелчке правой кнопкой мыши по любому файлу, будет отображена строка «Unlocker».
- На клавиатуре нажмите сочетание клавиш «CTRL+SHIFT+ESC» для открытия «Диспетчера задач». После этого перейдите на вкладку «Подробности», найдите «SearchUI.exe» и кликните по процессу ПКМ.
В появившемся меню кликните по «Открыть расположение файла».
- После открытия папки с нужным файлом правым кликом мыши выберите пункт «Unlocker».
- Через выпадающий список на нижней панели перейдите к окну «Переименовать».
В соответствующем окне укажите новое имя файла и нажмите «ОК». Для прекращения работы процесса будет достаточно добавить один лишний символ.
При успешном внесении изменений появится окно с уведомлением «Объект успешно переименован».
Теперь желательно произвести перезагрузку ПК. В будущем рассматриваемый процесс не появится.
Вариант 4: Групповая политика
В связи с интеграцией поисковой системы Bing и голосового помощника Cortana в Windows 10 поиск на компьютере может работать недостаточно эффективно. Чтобы улучшить производительность, можно внести изменения в групповые политики, ограничив систему поиска локальными результатами.
- На клавиатуре нажмите сочетание клавиш «WIN+R» и в текстовое поле введите следующее:
gpedit.msc - Из раздела «Конфигурация компьютера» перейдите к папке «Административные шаблоны». Здесь следует развернуть «Компоненты Windows» и открыть директорию «Найти».
- Перейдите на вкладку «Стандартный», что расположена внизу окна в правой части «Редактор локальной групповой политики». Найдите строку «Запретить поиск в Интернете» и дважды кликните по ней левой кнопкой мыши.
- В окне с доступными параметрами выберите значение «Включено» и сохраните изменения с помощью кнопки «ОК».
То же самое желательно сделать с двумя последующими пунктами в общем списке групповой политики.
После этого обязательно перезагрузите ПК.
Все рассмотренные варианты позволяют с легкостью отключить систему поиска в Windows 10 с теми или иными последствиями. При этом каждое проделанное действие вполне обратимо и специально на этот случай нами была подготовлена соответствующая инструкция.
Читайте также: Решение проблем с поиском в Windows 10
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Среди различных советов на тему оптимизации Windows 10 или работы системы с SSD вы можете встретить рекомендацию отключить индексирование. Сам метод оптимизации неоднозначный, но, если вы решили, что это требуется сделать, а поиск не используете, вполне можете применить его.
Отключение индексирования возможно путем изменения соответствующих параметров системы в панели управления, в том числе и для каждого диска отдельно, так и путем отключения соответствующей службы. В этой простой инструкции подробно о том, как отключить индексирование Windows 10 различными способами. Также может быть интересным: Настройка SSD для Windows 10, Программы для SSD.
- Отключение индексирования в панели управления Windows 10 и свойствах диска
- Отключить службу индексирования (Windows Search)
Отключаем индексирование Windows 10 в параметрах панели управления
Стандартный метод настройки и отключения индексирования Windows 10 — использование соответствующего раздела в панели управления:
- Откройте панель управления, а затем — Параметры индексирования. Можно просто начать набирать в поиске на панели задач слово «Индексирование», чтобы быстро открыть нужный пункт.
- В открывшемся окне вы увидите список расположений, для которых включено индексирование. Чтобы изменить этот список нажмите кнопку «Изменить».
- Снимите отметки с тех расположений, которые не требуется индексировать и примените настройки.
Дополнительно, вы можете отключить индексирование содержимого файлов на отдельных дисках (например, только для SSD) как самую затратную по ресурсам операцию индексирования. Для этого достаточно выполнить следующие шаги.
- Откройте свойства нужного диска.
- Снимите отметку «Разрешить индексировать содержимое файлов на этом компьютере в дополнение к свойствам файлам» и примените сделанные настройки.
Как видите, все сравнительно несложно, но при этом сама служба индексирования на компьютере продолжает работать.
Отключение службы индексирования Windows 10 (Windows Search)
Если вам требуется полностью отключить индексирование Windows 10, сделать это можно путем отключения соответствующей системной службы, которая называется Windows Search:
- Нажмите клавиши Win+R на клавиатуре, введите services.msc
- Найдите в списке служб «Windows Search».
- В типе запуска установите «Отключена», примените настройки и перезагрузите компьютер (если просто отключить и остановить, она запустится снова).
После этого индексирование в Windows 10 будет полностью отключено, но поиск по параметрам, системным элементам и установленным программам в панели задач продолжит работать, равно как и поиск по файлам, если использовать окно поиска в проводнике (в последнем случае вы будете видеть уведомление о том, что поиск может быть медленным, так как индексирование не выполняется).
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Windows
By
Abhishek Silwal
Windows Search is a great feature that helps you avoid having to go through all the path directories to access a file or a folder.
However, you may have to disable this feature in some scenarios. For instance, you may want to restrict user access to search if you want to create a limited environment domain.
Many search features are also redundant and you may want to disable those instead of the search application altogether.
So, we have created this article to help you enable/disable Windows Search or its specific features.
How to Enable/Disable Windows Search
There are mainly two ways to enable or disable Windows Search. They actually have different outcomes, so read carefully and pick one according to your need.
Change Search Service Behavior
The most convenient method to enable or disable Windows Search is by changing its service configuration. The Windows Search service handles indexing, caching, and search results for files, e-mail, etc.
So, disabling this service turns off indexing altogether. However, keep in mind that you can still use the search app. It can’t find your files and folders unless you enter the exact name or the initial part of the name. But you can still use the Start menu to search for apps and web results.
Regardless, here are some of the ways to disable your search service:
Through Services App
The Services app is the default program you can use to change the configuration of your system services, including the Windows Search service.
Here’s how you can enable/disable Windows Search Service:
- Open Run by pressing Win + R.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter to open the Services app. - Look for Windows Search and double-click on it.
- To Disable Search, set the Startup type to Disabled and click Stop.
- To Enable Search, set the Startup type to Automatic (Delayed Start) and click Start.
- Click on Apply and OK.
Using Command Prompt
Another easy way to enable or disable the Windows Search service is by using the Command Prompt. You only need a single command in both cases, so copying and pasting the command is more convenient.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Open Run.
- Type
cmdand press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Elevated Command Prompt. - Enter the following commands depending on whether you want to disable or enable Search:
- Disable:
sc config "wsearch" start=disabled && sc stop "wsearch" - Enable:
sc config "wsearch" start=delayed-auto && sc start "wsearch"
- Disable:
With Registry Editor
You can also modify the service’s settings by changing its configuration in your registry settings. In fact, all the above methods change the values in the relevant registry entries and your system directly looks at these entries to check the service configuration.
To use the Registry Editor to change such entries,
- Open Run and enter
regeditto open the Registry Editor. - Navigate to
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WSearch\ - To disable Windows Search, change the value of Start to 4. And, to enable Windows Search, change the value of Start to 2 and DelayedAutoStart to 1.
- You need to double-click on the entry, change the Value data and click OK to change its value.
Restart your PC after changing the values for your system to apply the changes.
Rename Search Folder
Renaming the system folders and files used in the search feature is a great way to disable the feature from your File Explorer as well as the Start menu. Here, renaming is the same as deleting the files while creating backups. It effectively stops your system from using such files altogether, making search impossible unless you change the folder back to their default names.
However, this method requires you to change the permission settings for the folders and files. So we recommend you create a restore point beforehand to account for any issues due to improper permissions.
The complete method is as follows:
- Open Run and enter
%WinDir%\SystemApps - Click on Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy and press F2 to rename it. You can set its name to anything you want, but we recommend just appending
.bakor.oldto make renaming it again easier. - Open this folder, select
SearchApp.exe, and press Alt + Enter to open its Properties. - Go to its Security tab and check whether any users other than TrustedInstaller allow Full Control.
- If Users, Administrators (if your account is an admin) or your current user has such permission, you can directly rename the file.
- Otherwise, click on Advanced.
- Select Change under Owner.
- Click on Advanced and on the next page, Find Now.
- Select your current user from the list and click OK. Selecting any other users is not recommended. Click OK again to change the owner.
- Keep on clicking OK until you close the Properties.
- Open the
SearchApp.exeProperties and go to Security > Advanced. - Click on Add and then, Select a principal.
- Perform steps 7-9 to select your current user as a principal.
- Set Type to Allow and tick Full Control.
- Keep on Pressing OK till you close Properties while applying the changes.
- Rename
SearchApp.exein a similar manner to its parent folder. For example,SearchApp.exe.old. - Now, go inside the
%WinDir%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewyfolder. - Look for
SearchHost.exeand perform steps 3-16 for this file too. - If the SystemApps folder contains Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy folder, you also need to change the name of the folder and the executable file inside this folder as well.
You need to restart your Windows Explorer to apply the changes. To do so,
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
- Go to the Details tab.
- Select
explorer.exeand click End Task. Confirm with End process.
- Click on File > Run new task from the menu and enter explorer.
If a window with the name, Search, keeps popping up and closing continuously, you need to restart Windows Explorer again.
Through Group Policy Management Editor
This method is a safer alternative to renaming the search files and folders. However, you can only use it by creating a Software Restriction Group Policy Object for a domain. Here’s how you can do so:
- Open the Group Policy Management Editor.
- Go to Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Software Restriction Policies > Additional Rules.
- If Software Restriction Policies does not expand to Additional Rules, right-click on it and select New Software Restriction Policy.
- Right-click on Additional Rules and select New Path Rule.
- Enter the following paths on the Path text box, set the Security level to Disallowed, and click OK:
%WinDir%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy%WinDir%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy(if the folder exists)%WinDir%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe
How to Enable/Disable Windows Search Web Results
Showing web results in Windows Search does not have many advantages. In fact, many users unknowingly open the web result when they actually want to run an app or any file in their local drive.
So, if you want to disable this feature, you can do so easily using the steps below:
- Open Run and enter
regedit. - Navigate to
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows - Right-click on Windows and select New > Key.
- Name it as
Explorer. - Right-click on Explorer and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Set its name to DisableSearchBoxSuggestions and double-click on it to change its value.
- Change the Value data to 1 to disable web results and click OK.
- If you want to enable it, you can change its value to 0.
Restart Windows Explorer (see above) to apply the changes.
How to Enable/Disable Search Highlights
Another possible search feature you might want to delete is the search highlights. It distracts you from your work and many users prefer customizing the start or search menu to their liking instead of automatically getting highlights based on Bing searches.
You can use the methods we have mentioned below to enable or disable this feature. Some of the methods overwrite other methods, so we recommend performing all of them.
Change Search Settings
The usual way to enable or disable search highlights is through the search permission Settings. The methods differ between Windows 10 and 11, so we have included both of them
On Windows 11
- Open Run and Enter
ms-settings:search-permissions. - Scroll down to Show search highlights and set its switch to On/Off per your need.
On Windows 10
- Right-click on the taskbar or the search bar.
- Click on Search and select Show search highlights to toggle this option.
Using Group Policy Editor
You can also change the group policy settings to enable or disable search highlights. This option overrides the settings so make sure to check it as well.
- Open Run and enter
gpedit.msc. - Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search.
- Double-click on Allow search highlights.
- Check Disabled or Enabled according to your preference and click OK.
Through Registry Editor
Another way you can change this setting is by modifying the relevant registry entry. Here’s how you can do so:
- Open Run and enter
regedit. - Navigate to
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings - If IsDynamicSearchBoxEnabled exists, double-click on it to edit its value.
- If not, right-click on SearchSettings and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Set its name to
IsDynamicSearchBoxEnabledand double-click on it. - Set the Value data to 0 to disable and 1 to enable the feature and click OK.
Related Questions
How to Hide and Unhide Search Icon on Windows
If you have disabled Windows Search, you might as well hide its icon to save space on the Taskbar. Here’s how you can do so:
On Windows 11
- Open Run and Enter
ms-settings:taskbar. - Click on the switch next to Search to hide or show its icon.
On Windows 10
- Right-click on the taskbar or the search bar.
- Click on Search and select Show search box to toggle the option.
How to Enable/Disable Win + S Search Shortcut?
Here’s how you can enable or disable the Win + S shortcut for Search. However, keep in mind that it also disables other hotkeys that include Win + S, such as Win + Shift + S for the snipping tool.
To enable or disable this shortcut:
- Open Run and enter
regedit. Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced- Right-click on Advanced and select New > String Value.
- Set its name to
DisabledHotkeysand double-click on it. - Change the value data to
Sand click OK.
You don’t need to create this value if it already exists. You can also add S to any other keys already present in the value by separating them with a comma.
Want to disable Windows Search but still find files quickly? See what Lookeen can do.
While indexing speeds up the search process, it may take up a lot of system resources from your computer, so you may contemplate disabling Windows Search for this and maybe other reasons. Continue reading to find out how to disable Windows Search in Windows 8 and 10.
Disabling Windows Search in Windows 8 and Windows 10
First, check if you have Windows Search service running from your Task Manager: Look for Microsoft Windows Search Indexer in the list, then expand using the small arrow to find Windows Search.
To temporarily stop the service, right-click and select Stop —next time you start up your computer, it will start running once again. This is great if the indexing process is affecting work you’re doing now, but doesn’t generally cause any trouble otherwise.
If you want to disable Windows Search permanently then follow these steps:
- In Windows 8, go to your Start Screen. In Windows 10 just enter the Start Menu.
- Type msc into the search bar.
- Now the services dialog box will open up
- In the list, look for Windows Search, right-click and choose Properties
- Under the General tab within the Properties box, look where it says Startup Type
- The Startup Type is always set to automatic, this is where you open the drop down menu and choose Disabled. Click Apply
- Restart your computer.
These steps should disable Windows Search completely, and remove the Windows Search bar from your Start Screen/Start Menu.
Re-Enabling Windows Search
If you want to re-enable the Windows Search Service, obviously searching for services.msc will no longer work. Here are a few ways to return to the Services window without searching for it:
Use the Windows Key + R shortcut to open the Run dialogue, then type services.msc.
Go to Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and navigate to the Services tab. Right click on any service and click Open Services.
From the Services manager, you simply reverse the previous process:
- Find Windows Search in the list
- Right click and select Properties
- In the General tab, next to Startup type: select Automatic or another startup type.
- Click Apply and restart your computer
Disable Windows 7 Search
You can also disable Windows 7 search. The steps may be fairly similar, but it’s best to follow the following instructions if you are using Windows 7, and not 8 or 10, and want windows search disabled. Here’s what you need to do:
1. The first step is to click Start and head right into your Control Panel.
2. It might be easier if you choose to view the icons within Control Panel in Large Icons View, and then click where it says Programs and Features.
3. Within Programs and Features, click on Turn Windows features on or off which is found on the left hand panel.
4. Find Windows Search in the list, and uncheck the box next to it.
5. A message will pop up that will ask for confirmation that you want to continue. Click Yes.
6. Back in the features window, click OK.
7. Another window will pop up, showing the progress of the changes you just made, then another that will require you to restart your system.
Once you start your computer up again, you will see that the search box is gone from the Start Menu – meaning that you have successfully disabled Windows 7 search.
That’s all there is! As you see, it’s pretty easy to disable Windows Search, and get it up and running again if you decide you want it back.
Updated 25.04.16 to include instructions for Windows 7
Windows Search has been a much welcome addition for many users. It allows you to find programs, files, folders, and other items on your PC with a simple search term. However, having search active indexes all your files regularly, that can result in more power consumption and higher resource usage which wouldn’t be ideal for users with lower-end PCs.
If you are in the same boat and would like to get rid of Windows Search, then here is all you need to know about it. Let’s get started.
Disabling Windows Search can help you in many ways. Here are some common reasons why most users disable Windows Search.
- Unused feature
- Reclaim resources
- Reclaim drive space
- Reduce power consumption
- Increase privacy by disabling cloud and local indexing
- Reduced background tasks and processes
And more. Disabling Windows Search is especially helpful on lower-end PCs that are struggling with various features of Windows 11. Disabling Search will help reduce your system workload which should in turn make your PC feel snappier.
Related: How to Search in Windows 11
Should you disable Windows Search?
No, unless your system is extremely low on resources, there is no point in disabling Windows Search. Windows Search is the most efficient search utility for Windows 11. Most third-party and open source alternatives take longer to index files and consume more resources when compared to Windows Search. Hence you already have the most efficient utility on your system.
So there is no point disabling Search unless you are extremely low on resources. Additionally, we recommend lowering indexing locations for Windows Search to reclaim your resources as this will limit resource usage and power consumption of Windows Search efficiently. If you would still like to disable Search in Windows 11 then you can use the following methods.
How to disable Windows Search on Windows 11
You can either disable Windows Search temporarily or permanently depending on your preferences. If you are looking to test out a feature or install a program that is interfering with Windows Search then you can temporarily disable it until your task is done.
However, if you do not wish to use Windows Search altogether, then you can use the permanent ways of disabling it listed below. Let’s get started.
Case #1: How to Disable Search Temporarily
You can temporarily disable Windows Search on your Windows 11 PC by either stopping the search service in the background or by using CMD. Use one of the methods below that best fits your current needs and requirements.
Method #01: Using Services
Disable Windows Search
Press Windows + R on your keyboard, type in the following command and press Enter on your keyboard.
services.msc
Once the services dialog box launches, identify ‘Windows Search’ in the list and right-click on it.
Select ‘Properties’.
Now click on ‘Stop’.
Click on the drop-down menu and select ‘Manual’.
Click on ‘Ok’ to save your changes.
The Windows Search service will now be stopped and automatic restart for it should now be disabled. Windows Seach should no longer work on your PC and you can now do the necessary task on your PC. Use the guide below to re-enable Windows Search once you are done.
Enable Windows Search
Press Windows + R on your keyboard and type in the following. Click on ‘Ok’ or press Enter on your keyboard once you are done.
services.msc
Right-click on ‘Windows Search’.
Select ‘Properties’.
Click on the drop-down menu and select ‘Automatic (delayed)’.
Now click on ‘Start’.
Click on ‘Ok’ to save your changes.
And that’s it! Windows Search should now be re-enabled on your PC.
Method #02: Using CMD
You can also disable and re-enable Windows Search using CMD on your PC. Follow the steps below to guide you through the process.
Disable Windows Search
Press Windows + S on your keyboard and search for CMD. Click on ‘Run as administrator’ once it shows up in your search results.
Type in the following command to stop the Windows Search service. Press Enter on your keyboard once you are done.
REG UPDATE HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WSearch\Start=3
Once done, execute the command below.
net.exe stop "Windows Search"
And that’s it! Windows Search should now be temporarily disabled on your system. Please keep in mind that the search service will be activated after a restart as soon as you try searching for something. However, we recommend you re-enable it on your system using the guide below instead to avoid any background or startup conflicts.
Re-enable Windows Search
Press Windows + S on your PC and search for CMD. Click on ‘Run as administrator’.
Now type in the following command and press Enter on your keyboard.
REG UPDATE HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WSearch\Start=1
Now enter the following command and press Enter again.
net.exe start "Windows Search"
Windows Search should now be re-enabled on your PC. We recommend you restart your system for good measure to enable Search properly.
Case #2: How to Disable Search Permanently
If you are looking to disable search permanently, then there is no one sure shot way to do so. Instead, you will need to disable various aspects of Windows Search to ensure that it is not working and indexing files in the background. This includes disabling its service, scheduled tasks, renaming the folder, and editing the Registry. Another way to permanently disable Windows Search is by using the Group Policy Editor. However, this is only available to users with Windows 11 Pro or higher. Hence you can use one of the guides below depending on your current edition of Windows 11 installed on your PC.
Disable services:
Let’s start by disabling the Windows Search service first. Follow the guide below to get you started.
Press Windows + R on your keyboard and type in the following to open the Services app. Click on ‘Ok’ once you are done.
services.msc
Now right-click on ‘Windows Search’ and select ‘Properties’.
Click on ‘Stop’.
Click on the drop-down menu and select ‘Disabled’.
Now click on ‘Ok’ to save your changes.
Windows Search should now be disabled on your system. Use the guide below to disable Windows Search tasks on your system.
Rename folder
We will now rename the folder for Windows Search which will prevent Windows from accessing the same path to launch Windows Search. This will break Windows Search functionality and should, in theory, help you disable Windows Search on your PC. Follow the guide below to get you started.
Press Windows + E on your keyboard and navigate to the following path. You can also copy-paste the same in your address bar.
C:\Windows\SystemApps\
Find a folder named ‘Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy’ and right-click on it.
Select ‘Show more options’.
Click on ‘Rename’.
Now rename the file to the following. Just add ‘.back’ at the end of the file.
Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy.back
Grant the necessary administrator permissions when requested. Double click and open the folder once done.
Right-click on ‘SearchApp.exe’ and click on ‘Show more options’.
Select Rename.
Enter the following name and press Enter on your keyboard.
SearchApp.exe.back
Now navigate to the following path. Right-click on ‘SearchHost.exe’ and select ‘Show more options’.
C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy
Rename the file to the following and press Enter on your keyboard.
SearchHost.exe.back
Grant the necessary permissions if prompted.
Close the File Explorer and restart your PC for good measure.
And that’s it! Renaming files and folders in conjunction with disabling the Windows Search service should help disable Windows Search on your system. Already indexed files will still be used to display search results on your PC in case you happen to use Search in the future. You can clear your indexed file cache in Windows 11 to disable this as well on your system.
How to disable web results in Windows Search
Windows Search can sometimes be annoying with its web results and it might be the reason why you are trying to disable Search on your PC. In such cases, you can selectively disable Web results in Windows Search using a registry change. Use the guide below to help you along with the process.
Press Windows + S on your keyboard and search for ‘regedit’. Click and launch the Registry Editor from your search results.
Navigate to the following path or copy-paste it in your address bar.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
Right-click on your right and select ‘New’.
Select ‘DWORD (32-bit) value’.
Name it the following and press Enter on your keyboard. Double click on it once done.
DisableSearchBoxSuggestions
Set the value data as ‘1’ and click on ‘Ok’.
Restart your PC for good measure.
And that’s it! Web results within Windows Search should now be disabled on your PC.
How to remove the search icon from your taskbar
This is a simple one and you can use the Windows Settings app to get rid of the Search icon. Follow the guide below to get you started.
Press Windows + i on your keyboard and click on ‘Personalization’ on your left.
Now click on ‘Taskbar’.
Click and expand ‘Taskbar items’. Turn off the toggle for ‘Search’ as shown below.
And that’s it! The Search icon should no longer be visible in your taskbar.
How to exclude a folder from indexing
Windows allows you to exclude a folder from being indexed easily. Use the guide below to help you out.
Press Windows + i on your keyboard and click on ‘Privacy & security’.
Now click on ‘Searching Windows’.
Click on ‘Add an excluded folder’.
Now browse to the desired folder and click and select it. Once selected, click on ‘Select folder’.
The selected folder will now be added to the exceptions list and its contents will no longer be indexed by Windows on your Pc.
How to allow Windows to index all your drives
You can easily allow Windows to index additional drives and partitions on your PC. Use the guide below to get you started.
Press Windows + i on your keyboard and click on ‘Privacy & security’ on your left.
Click on ‘Searching Windows’.
Now click on ‘Additional indexing options’ at the bottom of your screen.
Click on ‘Modify’.
Check the boxes for all the drives and partitions you wish to be indexed.
Click on ‘Ok’ once done.
Click on ‘Close’.
Windows will now index all the selected partitions and drives on your PC.
How to make Windows Search power-efficient (laptops only)
You can have Windows Search indexing respect your power plan which will prevent it from indexing files when on battery power. This will help reduce your overall power consumption which should result in increased battery life on your laptop. Use the guide below to get you started.
Press Windows + i on your keyboard and select ‘Privacy & security’ from the sidebar.
Click on ‘Searching Windows’.
Enable the toggle for ‘Respect power settings when indexing’.
And that’s it! Windows Search will now minimize or disable indexing based on your power plan when your laptop is running on battery power.
We hope this guide helped you get familiar with disabling Windows Search in Windows 11. If you face any issues or errors, feel free to reach out to us using the comments section below.
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