Turn off Windows 11 search highlights and web suggestions

[nerdslife_team]

Windows 11’s search interface includes features like Search Highlights and web content suggestions that show daily updates, trending searches, and web results. While these features aim to enhance the search experience, they can make searches slower and add unnecessary clutter. Here are multiple ways to disable these features and streamline your Windows 11 search experience.

Method 1: Registry editor configuration for all users

This method works on all Windows 11 versions and provides system-wide changes that affect all users.

1. Launch Registry Editor by pressing Windows+R, typing regedit, and hitting Enter. Approve any UAC prompts.

Before making changes, create a registry backup:

• Click File > Export
• Select a save location
• Choose “All” under Export range
• Name your backup file
• Click Save

2. Navigate to this registry path:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

3. If “Windows Search” doesn’t exist, create it by right-clicking Windows > New > Key.

4. Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it EnableDynamicContentInWSB.

5. Double-click the new value, set it to 0, click OK.

6. Restart your computer to apply changes.

Method 2: Group policy settings for pro editions

For Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education users, this method offers a more straightforward approach.

1. Open Group Policy Editor with Windows+R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter.

2. Navigate to:
   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search

3. Find and double-click “Allow search highlights”

4. Select “Disabled”, click Apply and OK

5. Restart your computer

Method 3: Windows settings for single user

This method affects only your user account but is the simplest to implement.

1. Open Settings using Windows+I

2. Navigate to Privacy & security > Search permissions

3. Toggle off “Show search highlights”

4. Check the search interface to confirm changes

Removing web results from search

To completely remove Bing web results from searches:

Registry method

1. Open Registry Editor
2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
3. Create or modify Explorer key
4. Add DWORD DisableSearchBoxSuggestions with value 1

Group policy method

1. Open Group Policy Editor
2. Go to: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer
3. Enable “Turn off display of recent search entries”
4. Restart your computer

These changes will give you a cleaner, faster, and more focused search experience in Windows 11.