How to disable web results in Windows Search

Windows 11 Search can surface online suggestions and web results alongside local apps, settings, and files. Disabling web results keeps Start menu searches focused on on-device matches and reduces accidental Bing queries.

Windows Search reads policy values from the Windows Registry and applies them to the Start menu search experience. Setting the web-search policy values forces the search UI to avoid fetching internet-backed results when typing into the search box.

The most consistent control is a machine-wide policy stored under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies, which requires administrator access. Managed devices can have these settings overridden by domain Group Policy, and a restart is typically required for the policy to take effect.

1. Sign in to Windows 11 using an administrator account.
2. Open the Start menu.
3. Search for regedit.
4. Select Run as administrator for Registry Editor.
5. Select Yes on the User Account Control prompt.

   Only approve elevation for trusted binaries such as Registry Editor from Microsoft Windows.

6. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search.

   Create missing keys in the path via right-click → New → Key, and name each key to match the target path.

7. Export the Windows Search key to a .reg file.

   Use File → Export while the Windows Search key is selected to save a rollback copy.

8. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value in the right pane.
9. Name the new value DisableWebSearch.
10. Set DisableWebSearch Value data to 1.

    Incorrect registry edits can destabilize Windows 11; change only the listed values under the specified key and keep the exported backup.

11. Create another DWORD (32-bit) Value in the right pane.
12. Name the new value ConnectedSearchUseWeb.
13. Set ConnectedSearchUseWeb Value data to 0.
14. Restart Windows 11.
15. Open Search from the taskbar.
16. Type weather into the search box.
17. Confirm that results show local matches without a Web results section.