If you find that Bing search results in your Windows 11 Start menu are unnecessary or distracting, you can disable this feature. This guide will walk you through the steps to turn off Bing search integration in the Windows Start menu. These instructions are targeted at novice computer users, so you can follow along even if you’re not very tech-savvy.
Using the Registry
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor
Disabling Bing search involves making changes to the Windows Registry. While this may sound daunting, it’s straightforward if you follow these steps carefully.
- Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
- Type regedit into the box and press Enter. This will open the Registry Editor.
- If you see a User Account Control prompt asking for permission to make changes, click Yes to proceed.
Step 2: Navigate to the Search Key
In the Registry Editor, you need to navigate to a specific key related to search settings.
- In the left pane, expand the folder structure by clicking the small arrows next to each folder name.
- Follow this path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer - Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
- Expand Software.
- Expand Policies.
- Expand Microsoft.
- Expand Windows.
- Click on Explorer. If the Explorer key does not exist, you’ll need to create it.
Step 3: Create or Modify the Registry Entries
Now that you are in the correct location, you may need to create new values to disable Bing search.
- With the Explorer key selected, right-click in the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name this new value DisableSearchBoxSuggestions.
Step 4: Set the Value Data
- Double-click on the newly created DisableSearchBoxSuggestions value.
- In the Value data box, type 1.
- Click OK to save the changes.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer
For the changes to take effect, you need to restart your computer.
- Close the Registry Editor.
- Restart your computer by clicking the Start button, selecting the power icon, and choosing Restart.
Alternative Method: Using Group Policy Editor (Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise)
If you’re using Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can also disable Bing search using the Group Policy Editor.
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
- Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search.
- Double-click on Do not allow web search.
- Select Enabled and click OK.
- Next, double-click on Don’t search the web or display web results in Search.
- Select Enabled and click OK.
- Restart your computer to apply the changes.
Disabling Bing search in the Windows 11 Start menu can help streamline your search experience and keep your search results focused on local content. Whether you choose to modify the Windows Registry or use the Group Policy Editor, following these steps will help you remove Bing search integration efficiently. Remember to be careful when making changes to the Registry, and always restart your computer to apply any modifications.