Turning off Bing Search in Windows 11 isn’t exactly a quick clickjob. It’s a bit wonky, but Windows naturally pushes Bing into the search bar, and sometimes it feels like it prefers web results over your own files. If those Bing snippets are doing your head in, or you just want your search to focus on your stuff, tweaking the registry is one way to do it. Fair dinkum, messing with the Registry isn’t the safest, so make sure you back it up first. Once you get the hang of it, stopping Bing from cluttering up your search results makes life a lot easier down the track.
How to Disable Bing Search in Windows 11
Open the Registry Editor and find your way
Hit Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Yeah, you’ll need admin rights for this. This opens the Registry Editor, which is basically Windows’ deep-dive settings. Because of course, Windows makes it just a bit harder than it needs to be. Once you’re in, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search. You can copy-paste that path into the Registry Editor’s address bar for a quick shot. Sometimes, on different setups, that folder might look a bit different—especially if you’ve got custom configs or recent updates. Just have a squiz to see if it exists, or create it if it doesn’t.
Create or tweak the BingSearchEnabled key
- In the right pane, right-click, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it BingSearchEnabled.
- Double-click it and set the value to 0.
This basically tells Windows, “No worries, don’t bother with Bing in the search bar.” Sometimes, it takes a reboot for the change to kick in. On some machines, it works straight away; on others, a quick restart sorts it out. Sometimes you just gotta be a bit patient.
Disable Cortana’s Bing integration
Find the registry key called CortanaConsent, which might be under the same search folder or sometimes under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search. Double-click, change the value to 0, and hit OK. This stops Cortana from pulling Bing results in its own way, which is part of the same web-search puzzle. Some reckon it’s not always necessary, but it’s a good idea to do both for peace of mind.
Reboot and watch the magic happen
Restart your PC. Yep, give it another go. When it loads back up, try typing in the search bar. If you did it right, Bing search results should be gone, and your search bar will stick to local files and apps. Sometimes, it just takes a reboot or a sign-out/sign-in cycle to apply the changes. Don’t worry if it’s not instant—patience is key!
Tips for Nailing Bing Search in Windows 11
- Always back up your registry before tinkering. It’s easy to stuff things up if you’re not careful—export the current state before making changes.
- If you’re new to registry edits, ask around or check out forums. No shame in getting a hand.
- Double-check your spelling—typos in registry keys can mean bugger all happens or, worse, cause system issues.
- If things go a bit sideways, just retrace your steps: delete the
BingSearchEnabledentry or change its value back to1. - Keep your system updated—big Windows updates can sometimes reset or override your custom settings, so check if your tweaks stick after updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why bother disabling Bing Search in Windows 11?
Many folks prefer local search to avoid web results, especially if they value their privacy. Bing results can clutter things up if you’re after a quick find for your files or want to keep searches offline.
Can I turn Bing Search back on later?
Absolutely. Just delete the BingSearchEnabled registry key or set its value to 1. That’ll bring back the default web results if you fancy.
Will this mess with my web searches outside the search bar?
Nah. Your browser searches and other apps stay just the way they are. This tweak only changes what happens in the Windows search interface itself.
Is editing the registry risky?
It’s generally safe if you follow instructions carefully, but a wrong move can cause weird issues or make your system unstable. So, back up first and only have a go if you’re comfortable with registry fiddling.
Will this work across all user accounts?
No, it only affects the current user profile. If you want it for everyone, you’ll need to do the same on each account.
Summary
- Open Registry Editor
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search
- Create or edit BingSearchEnabled to 0
- Set CortanaConsent to 0
- Restart your machine and enjoy a more down-to-earth search experience
Wrap-up
Getting rid of Bing search in Windows 11 isn’t too tricky, but it does require a bit of a poke around the registry. Once you’ve done it, your search bar becomes a lot cleaner—focused on your files and apps, not web clutter. No idea why Windows makes this so complicated, but if it works, it works. Just remember to back everything up first and take your time with each step. Hope this helps someone save a bit of hassle. Good luck, and happy searching!