How do I permanently remove the search bar and cortana in the taskbar (Windows 10)?

hi there:

1. to remove Cortana in the taskbar: right click on the task bar and untick, show Cortana.
2. to remove the search bar in the taskbar: right click on the task bar and hover your mouse to search. Then, press hidden.

hi there:

Please look at my screenshot. That is how to hide the search box in the taskbar. Just click on hidden.

Hi Van-

I'm Kevin B. Independent advisor and a Windows 10 user like you. I do apologize for such problem that you have however when you say permanently you want to remove the feature totally gone even the settings and configuration on the Windows.

If that is the case we can't actually do that since Cortana and search bar are build in features on Windows 10.

You can only disable it on some settings for you not to use it.

If you are using Windows 10 Professional you can modify your group policy and disable Cortana.

In your keyboard press Windows key + R

type: gpedit.msc

Navigate to Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search. Double-click the policy named Allow Cortana.

Set the Allow Cortana option to “Disabled” and then click “OK”.

You can now close the group policy editor. You’ll have to sign out and sign back in–or restart your PC–for this change to take effect.

If you’re using Windows 10 Home, you’ll need to edit the registry. Do not tackle this step unless you have experience editing the registry. Additionally, you should set a restore point now in case things go sideways.

To do that just follow these tips.

Press Windows Key + R on your keyboard

type: regedit then press enter

open the Registry Editor. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search.

Here’s where it gets tricky: That final key (Windows Search) might not be present, as it wasn’t on my machine. In that case you’ll need to right-click the Windows directory and select New > Key. Name it Windows Search.

Now select that new key. In the righthand pane, right-click and select new DWORD and name it AllowCortana. Then right-click that value and make sure it’s set to 0.

Sign out, sign back in and you should notice that Cortana has been replaced with a generic search box

After all this done you may still see Cortana on the taskbar and you need to kill the process.

Hope this will help. Have a blessed day.

Thanks.

Kevin B.

Independent advisor.

Ok, I hope the next version of Windows gives me an option to remove the search bar permanently. Thank you for your help Kevin, I appreciate it!

Have a good day!

Hi Kevin, thanks for the reply! I will try that out and I will tell you if it worked or not. I have one question: Is it possible to disable the option to search on web and photos permanently?