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Disable Edge search and site suggestions

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script disables search suggestions based on typed characters in Microsoft Edge, enhancing user privacy by preventing typed data collection.

When you type in the address bar, Microsoft Edge sends characters to Microsoft servers to provide search and site suggestions 1 2. This data-sharing feature is enabled by default 1. Running this script prevents these suggestions from appearing 3. It ensures your inputs remain private and are not used to generate suggestions or telemetry 1 2.

Authorities like The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) 2 and The Center for Internet Security (CIS) 4 recommend this script for enhanced security. DISA categorizes the absence of this setting as a medium severity security vulnerability 2. Microsoft recommends this script for privacy and managing connections 5.

Impacts of running this script:

  • Disables search suggestions and auto-suggest features in the address bar 1 2.
  • Blocks the collection of typed characters and visited URLs for telemetry by Microsoft 1 2.
  • Retains local history and favorites suggestions, without sending this data to Microsoft 1 2.
  • Prevents users from changing this configuration 1 2.

This script configures the SearchSuggestEnabled Edge policy 1 2 3 4 5.

Caution
  • This will display the message "Your browser is managed by your organization" on the settings page.
  • This locks settings and prevents them from being changed on the settings page.

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications. Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

Implementation Details

  • Language: batch

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Configure Edge category. This category contains scripts that adjust Microsoft Edge settings to enhance privacy, security, and potentially improve system performance This category is designed for Chromium-based Edge only, not for legacy Edge. Edge (Chromium) is the current version of Microsoft Edge, replacing Edge... Read more on category page ▶

Apply now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
  3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the script name: Disable Edge search and site suggestions.
  3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

  1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

    Download script

  2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script​

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy​

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
HELP: Step-by-step guide

  1. Click on Start menu

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

  4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

Animation showing how to open terminal as administrator on Windows 11

  1. Copy the following code:
Code to apply changes
:: Configure "SearchSuggestEnabled" Edge policy
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge!SearchSuggestEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'; $data = '0'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' /v 'SearchSuggestEnabled' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
  1. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
  2. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code​

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code
:: Restore "SearchSuggestEnabled" Edge policy
:: Delete the registry value "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge!SearchSuggestEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' /v 'SearchSuggestEnabled' /f 2>$null"

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