Disable search suggestions
Overview
This category contains privacy scripts for Windows.
These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
This category focuses on enhancing privacy by disabling various search suggestions in Windows, commonly associated with Cortana 1. Cortana is a digital assistant integrated into Windows Search, capable of collecting extensive personal data to provide its services 2. This includes your search queries, contact information, location, voice inputs, browsing history, and details from emails, calendars, and communication history 2.
These scripts are designed to limit the amount of personal data shared with Microsoft, preventing your typed searches from being sent to Bing for search recommendations, even when Cortana is inactive 2.
This category is recommended for all users. It helps to improve privacy without affecting stability.
Apply now
These scripts are written using Batch (batchfile) scripting language.
Choose one of two ways to apply:
- Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
- Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.
It allows selectively choose parts of this action to conduct. You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.
privacy.sexy instructions
- Open or download the desktop application
- Search for the category name:
Disable search suggestions. - Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
- Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.
Alternative 2. Download
Consider restarting your computer for all changes to take affect.
This action is completely reversible, you can restore your changes to the initial/default state. The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
If something goes wrong, use the Revert script provided above.
Standard
This script includes only Standard recommendation level.
Standard scripts in this category is recommended for all users. They help to improve privacy without affecting stability.
Download only standard scripts by clicking on the button:
Restore these changes if you decide to revert them by downloading the restore script:
Explore further
This category includes total of 5 scripts but no subcategories.
Explore its 5 scripts:
Disable Bing search and recent search suggestions (breaks search history)
This script improves privacy by disabling Bing search in the Start menu and recent search suggestions in File Explorer. By default, Windows 10's Search Box includes suggestions from the Internet, alongside local search results. This script limits the search results to your local machine, improving privacy by not sending data to Microsoft servers. The script: Stops Bing web search integration in the Start menu. • Disables recent search suggestions in File Explorer. • Prevents search entries from ...
Disable Bing search in start menu
This script disables the Bing search integration in the Windows Start menu search function. In Windows, typing in the Start menu search box displays results from the web via Bing, in addition to local search results. By preventing the search function from sending queries to Microsoft servers, this script enhances user privacy and optimizes system performance by reducing the search workload. Running this script prevents such web searches by modifying the `HKCU\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVe...
Disable web search in search bar
This script disables the ability to perform web searches directly from the Windows Desktop Search By executing this script, searches made from the desktop will be restricted to local content, omitting results from the web. Without this script, Windows Desktop Search includes web results by default, utilizing the user's default web browser and search engine. This script configures "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Windows Search!DisableWebSearch" registry key. "DisableWebSearch" is not re...
Disable web results in Windows Search
This script improves your privacy by disabling the display of web results in the Windows Search function. This prevents your search terms from being sent to Microsoft servers. By default, the Windows Start menu Search box shows results from your computer, the Windows Store, and Bing's web search results. This default behavior means your queries are shared with Microsoft, which could impact your privacy. Running this script stops the Start menu search from performing web searches and displaying w...
Disable Windows search highlights
This script disables the search highlights feature in the taskbar search box. By default, search highlights present content like holidays, anniversaries, and other special events, both globally and regionally. This feature, available since Windows 10 and 11 version 2004, periodically updates with content, including illustrations and text in the search box. However, using search highlights can impact your privacy. This feature is even considered a security vulnerability. It reduces privacy by com...
Explore Categories
- Disable Windows search data collection
- Disable OS data collection
This action belongs to Disable Windows search data collection category. This category is dedicated to minimizing the personal data collected and utilized by Windows Search and Cortana. It encompasses a range of scripts designed to curtail data sharing and bolster user privacy. These scripts are crucial for preventing the search function from transmitting sensitive... Read more on category page ▶
This action belongs to Disable OS data collection category. This category configures Windows using 153 scripts. These scripts are organized in 33 categories. The category includes 14 subscripts and 13 subcategories that include more scripts and categories. Read more on category page ▶
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