How to disable / remove 'Visual search with bing' from the windows photos app

Question

Hello,

First time reaching out for help on this plaform.

I noticed that with a recent Windows update to 10 and 11 that this new button appeared in the Photos app that lets you search the web using an image instead of text. 

This I would like to disable for my organisation until it has been carefully reviewed.

Does anybody know how i can achieve this please?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/using-bing-visual-search-62771a0c-4daa-47e4-a9f7-e1bfa85f0d7c#articleFooterSupportBridge=communityBridge

image attached to i hope

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi ,

Thank you for reaching out!

My name is Stefano and it’s my pleasure to assist you today.

Unfotunately there isn't a direct setting to disable or deactivate Visual Search feature in Bing.

You may leave a feedback at this direct link suggesting this useful improvement:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/send-...

A solution that will partially work is to disable Bing Visual Search in Windows Search.

> Open Registry Editor again.

>Go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

>Create a DWORD:

• Right-click the right pane > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
• Name it DisableSearchBoxSuggestions.

> Set its value to 1.

> Restart your computer.

This will disable online Bing search integration in Windows Search.

I hope this helps.

Keep me posted.

Stefano

Microsoft Community Independent advisor

Answer 2

Hi Stefano,

Thank you for your response.

I do already have the Windows Search function disabled by group policy but I appreciate the tip with registry setting.

Its just a pain as the Photos app Visual Search is bypassing this as its an app and not part of Windows. I will look to see if there are new ADMX files for Windows 11 24H2 that might include some control for the photos app and let you know what i find. Might take a bit of time.

Regarding the immediate issue I have simply added the below URL to the block list for Edge and Chrome in group policy. I will get this applied to the firewalls too. This prevents the Photos app Visiual Search from resolving.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=*

Thanks again

Jamie