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Microsoft Search in Bing and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise

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Microsoft Search in Bing helps the users in your organization quickly find work-related information, including people, files, internal sites, and more. Searching for this information is as easy as searching the web. For more information, see Overview of Microsoft Search in Bing.

To help your users take advantage of the benefits of Microsoft Search in Bing, we're making an optional extension available for the Google Chrome web browser. If you decide to deploy this extension, it sets Bing as the default search engine for Google Chrome and provides easier access to Microsoft Search capabilities.

Deploying this optional extension requires a background service included with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise Version 2005 or later. Even with the background service installed, you have control over the deployment of the extension. For example, the extension won't get installed on devices in your organization unless you opt in. You can opt in from the Microsoft Search section of the Microsoft 365 admin center. For more information, see How does the Microsoft Search in Bing extension for Google Chrome get installed?

This optional extension is available only in specific locations for domain-joined devices running Windows. If Bing is already the default search engine, the extension doesn't get installed. Even after the extension is installed, an On/Off toggle easily allows your users to stop using Bing as the default search engine.

Note

If you don't want the background service installed on devices in your organization or if you don't want Bing to be set automatically as the default search engine, there is an alternative:

  • You can use the Microsoft Search extension that is available from the Chrome Web Store.
  • This extension provides a way to perform workplace search while in the Chrome web browser.
  • You can have your users manually install this extension for themselves or you can deploy this extension for them by using the ExtensionInstallForcelist policy.
  • This extension does not make any changes to default browser settings or search engine settings on your users' devices.

How does the Microsoft Search in Bing extension for Google Chrome get installed?

Several things all have to happen for the Microsoft Search in Bing extension to be installed for Google Chrome on the user's device.

  • You must opt in to install the Microsoft Search extension, by going to the Microsoft Search section of the Microsoft 365 admin center.
  • A background service for Microsoft Search in Bing must be installed on the user's device. This background service is included when you install or update to Version 2005 or later of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.
  • The device must meet specific criteria for the extension to be installed.

For more information, see the following sections.

Configure the setting in the Microsoft 365 admin center to allow the extension to be installed

To allow the extension to be installed, sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center with your admin account. Then, go to Show all > Settings > Search & intelligence > Configurations, and then choose Edit.

Note

Search & intelligence was previously named Microsoft Search.

There you see the Install extension and set Bing as the default search engine check box. The check box isn't selected by default, as shown in the following screenshot.

A screenshot of Microsoft 365 admin center settings for configuring Microsoft Search in Bing, including extension settings and search results configurations.

To allow the extension to be installed, select the check box, and then choose Save.

If the extension has been installed on devices in your organization, and you clear the check box and choose Save, the extension is removed and Bing is no longer the default search engine on those devices. These changes might take up to 24 hours to take effect on those devices.

Assign the extension to groups of users

You can choose to provide the extension to everyone in your organization or specific groups of users. The option to provide the extension only to specific groups of users allows you to do the following in your organization:

  • Pilot the use of Microsoft Search in Bing to a subset of users before deploying more broadly.
  • Deploy the extension only to groups of users that benefit most from using Microsoft Search in Bing.

Changes that you make to which users get the extension can take up to 24 hours to take effect on their devices.

Install the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing on the user's device

Another requirement is that a background service for Microsoft Search in Bing needs to be installed on the user's device. This background service is included with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, starting with Version 2005. For more information, review this table.

Once the background service is installed, it checks whether the setting in the Microsoft 365 admin center is selected. That check is made once a day.

This background service gets installed automatically on the user's device only if all of the following criteria are met:

  • You're installing or updating to Version 2005 or later of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.
  • The device is running Windows.
  • The device is joined to an Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) domain in Windows Server.

Note

The background service is not installed if the device is joined only to a Microsoft Entra domain.

Also, the background service is not included with any of the following types of Office:

  • Microsoft 365 Apps for business
  • Office for Mac
  • Volume licensed versions of Office 2019, such as Office Professional Plus 2019
  • Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 or Office LTSC Standard 2021

You can also manually download and install the background service.

If you don't want the background service installed, see How to prevent the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing from being installed.

Criteria that need to be met to install the extension

When you select the check box in the Microsoft 365 admin center, the background service checks if it is installed on the user's device and meets the following criteria:

  • The device is located in one of the specified locations.
  • Google Chrome is installed on the device.
  • Bing isn't already the default search engine for Google Chrome.

If the criteria are met, the extension installs on the user's device and sets Bing as the default search engine in Google Chrome, providing easier access to Microsoft Search capabilities.

Note

The extension won't be installed on the user's device if Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise is deployed in an Office 365 (or Microsoft 365) GCC, GCC High, or DoD environment.

Tip

If you're expecting the extension to be installed, but it isn't getting installed, check to make sure that you haven't done anything to prevent the background service from being installed with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. Also, using a policy setting to enforce a different default search engine or to control extensions on Google Chrome will prevent the extension from being installed. For example, if you're using the ExtensionInstallForceList policy.

Which versions of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise include the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing?

Version 2005 is the first version of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise that installs this background service on domain-joined devices running Windows. The background service is included with new installations and with updates to existing installations of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

The following table shows, for each update channel, the initial version of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise in which the background service is included.

Update channel Version Release date
Current Channel (Preview) Version 2005 May 14, 2020
Current Channel Version 2005 June 2, 2020
Monthly Enterprise Channel Version 2008 October 13, 2020
Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview) Version 2008 September 8, 2020
Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Version 2008 January 12, 2021

Which locations will receive the Microsoft Search in Bing extension?

At this time, the Microsoft Search in Bing extension for Google Chrome will only be installed on devices in the following locations, based on the IP address of the device:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

The location of the device is checked once every month. If the device is in a listed location and you selected the setting in the Microsoft 365 admin center, the extension for Google Chrome will install and Bing will become the default search engine.

Other locations might be added over time. Before any new locations are added, we notify you through the Message Center in the Microsoft 365 admin center and we update the list of locations accordingly.

How to prevent the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing from being installed with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise

If you don't want the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing to be installed with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, you can use the Office Deployment Tool or Group Policy. There are also ways to prevent the background service from being installed if you're using Microsoft Configuration Manager (current branch) or Microsoft Intune.

Whichever method you use, be sure to implement it before you install or update to a version of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise that includes the background service. If you implement the method after the background service has been installed, the background service won't be removed from the device. To remove the background service, see How to remove the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing after it's been installed.

Office Deployment Tool

If you use the Office Deployment Tool, you can use the ExcludeApp element in your configuration.xml file, as shown in the following example. This method is probably best used for new installations of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

<Configuration>
   <Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="Current">
      <Product ID="O365ProPlusRetail">
       <Language ID="en-us" />
       <ExcludeApp ID="Bing" />
      </Product>
   </Add>
</Configuration>

Note

  • Be sure to download the most current version of the Office Deployment Tool.
  • We recommend that you use the Office Customization Tool to help you create your configuration.xml file with the appropriate settings.

Group Policy

If you use Group Policy in your organization, you can enable the Don't install a background service for Microsoft Search in Bing policy setting. This method is probably best used for existing installations of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

You can find this policy setting under Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine)\Updates. This policy setting is available in the Administrative Template files (ADMX/ADML) download starting with version 5011.1000, which was released on May 5, 2020.

Note

In previous releases of the Administrative Template files, this policy setting was named Don't install extension for Microsoft Search in Bing that makes Bing the default the search engine.

If you configured the previously named policy setting, the setting you chose still applies.

Configuration Manager (current branch)

If you're deploying Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise by using the Office 365 Client Installation wizard in Configuration Manager, you can set the Background service for Microsoft Search in Bing toggle to Off in the Features section.

A screenshot of Configuration settings for apps and features in Microsoft 365, showing various apps and the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing.

Microsoft Intune

If you're deploying Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise by using Intune, on the Configure app suite page, you can set the Install background service for Microsoft Search in Bing toggle to No in the Properties section.

A screenshot of Intune properties settings showing options for shared computer activation, Microsoft Software License terms, and background service for Microsoft Search in Bing.

Change the default search engine for Google Chrome from the extension

If your users want to revert to their previous default search engine, they can select the magnifying glass icon next to the address bar in Google Chrome and move the Use Bing as your default search engine toggle to the Off position. For the change to take effect, they need to close Google Chrome and then open it again. Selecting Off doesn't remove the extension. This allows your users to still easily search work content through the extension flyout.

A screenshot of Microsoft Search flyout in Chrome showing suggested searches and an option to use Bing as the default search engine.

If your users want to go back to using Bing as their default search engine and access Microsoft Search capabilities, they can move the toggle in Google Chrome to the On position. For the change to take effect, they need to close Google Chrome and then open it again.

How to remove the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing after it's been installed

You don't need to remove the background service to revert back to the original search engine settings. Your users can use the On/Off toggle or you can clear the setting in the Microsoft 365 admin center that affects all users in your organization.

But if you want, you can remove the background service from the device. If the extension is installed on the device, then uninstalling the background service also removes the extension. Bing will no longer be set as the default search engine. Also, the background service won't be installed again in a future update of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

To remove the background service from an individual device, go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Then, under the list of installed programs, right-click on Microsoft Search in Bing and choose Uninstall.

If you want to remove the background service from multiple devices in your organization, you can run the following command as an administrator in a script:

"%ProgramData%\Microsoft\DefaultPackMSI\MainBootStrap.exe" uninstallAll

Additional information about Microsoft Search in Bing and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise

Manually download and install the background service

You can manually download the background service for Microsoft Search in Bing and then deploy it to devices in your organization. For example, on devices running a version of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise earlier than Version 2005 or on devices with Microsoft 365 Apps for business. Even if manually deployed, the background service uses the same criteria to determine whether to install the extension on the device.

ExtensionInstallForceList policy for Google Chrome

If you use the Configure the list of force-installed apps and extensions (ExtensionInstallForcelist) policy to restrict Chrome extensions in your organization, include the following value when configuring the policy:

obdappnhkfoejojnmcohppfnoeagadna;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx

If you don't include this value, the extension for Microsoft Search in Bing will be removed from devices.