Disabling Bing Search in Windows 11 isn’t exactly a one-click affair. It’s kind of weird, but Windows pushes Bing pretty hard into the search bar, and sometimes it feels like the default is web results over local files. If you’ve ever felt annoyed by those Bing snippets showing up, or just want your search to stick to your own files and apps, tweaking the registry is one way to do it. Of course, messing with the Registry isn’t exactly the safest thing, so it’s good to back things up before diving in. But once you get the hang of it, stopping Bing from polluting your search results actually makes your life a lot easier.
How to Disable Bing Search in Windows 11
Open the Registry Editor and navigate to the right spot
Hit Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Yeah, you need admin rights for this. This opens the Registry Editor, which is basically Windows’ deep-dive settings area. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than it needs to be. Once inside, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search. You can just copy-paste that path into the Registry Editor’s address bar for faster access. Sometimes, on some setups, this folder might look a little different, especially if you have custom configs or recent updates. Just double-check if the path exists or create it if needed.
Create or modify the BingSearchEnabled key
- In the right pane, right-click, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it BingSearchEnabled.
- Double-click it and set the value to 0.
This step basically tells Windows, “Hey, don’t bother with Bing in the search bar.” Because, for some reason, Windows loves to keep that default behavior, but setting this to 0 ensures local search only. On some machines, this might not work immediately; on others, it takes a reboot. Not sure why it works sometimes on the first try and not others, but rebooting usually does the trick.
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 say it’s not strictly necessary, but it’s good to do both for peace of mind.
Reboot and see the magic happen
Restart your PC. Yeah, again. When it boots back up, try typing in the search bar. If you did everything right, Bing search results should be gone, and your search bar will focus on local stuff only. At least that’s the hope—sometimes the registry needs a bit of patience and a reboot to apply the changes. On some setups, it might take a couple of tries or a sign-out/sign-in cycle, but usually, a restart does the trick.
Tips for Disabling Bing Search in Windows 11
- Always back up your registry before messing around. It’s easy to screw things up if you’re not careful — just export the current state before changing anything.
- If you’re not super comfortable with registry edits, seek help or double-check steps on forums. No shame in asking.
- Make sure you spell everything right—Typos in registry keys can mean nothing happens or worse, system instability.
- If things go sideways, retrace the steps: delete the
BingSearchEnabledvalue or set it back to1.) - Stay updated — Windows updates can sometimes reset or override custom settings, so check if your changes hold after big updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why disable Bing Search in Windows 11?
Honestly, a lot of users prefer local search to avoid unnecessary web results and to boost privacy. Bing results can clutter the search experience if you just want to find files faster or keep your searches offline.
Can I re-enable Bing Search later?
Sure. Just delete the BingSearchEnabled registry entry or set its value back to 1. That’ll restore the default behavior — web results and all.
Will this affect my web searches outside the search bar?
Nope. Your web browser searches and other apps stay the same. This tweak only impacts the Windows search interface itself.
Is editing the registry safe?
It’s generally safe if you follow instructions carefully, but a wrong move can cause weird issues or system instability. So, back things up first, and only proceed if you’re comfortable with registry tweaks.
Does this change apply to all user accounts?
No, it only affects the current user profile. If you want to do this for multiple accounts, repeat the process on each one.
Summary
- Open Registry Editor
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search
- Create or edit BingSearchEnabled to 0
- Change CortanaConsent to 0
- Restart PC and enjoy local-only search
Wrap-up
Getting rid of Bing search in Windows 11 isn’t super complicated, but it’s definitely a bit of a hunt through the registry. Once it’s done, your search bar becomes a lot less cluttered with web results and more about your local stuff. Not sure why Windows makes this so complicated, but hey—if it works, it works. Just remember to back up first and double-check each step. Fingers crossed this helps someone save a little time or frustration. Good luck!