Disable Windows search highlights

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script disables the search highlights feature in the taskbar search box.

By default 1 2, search highlights present content like holidays, anniversaries, and other special events, both globally and regionally 1. This feature, available since Windows 10 and 11 version 2004 1 3 4, periodically updates with content, including illustrations and text in the search box 1.

However, using search highlights can impact your privacy. This feature is even considered a security vulnerability 2. It reduces privacy by communicating personalized content including updates from your organization, suggested people, files, and more 3. Acknowledging this privacy concern, Windows provides settings in the "Privacy & security" section to manage it 3.

This script adjusts following registry keys to turn off this feature:

• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search!EnableDynamicContentInWSB 4 2 5
• HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings!IsDynamicSearchBoxEnabled 6 7 8
• HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings!ShowDynamicContent 7

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Safe for General Use

This script is recommended for all users. It helps to improve privacy without affecting stability.

Implementation Details

• Language: batch

• Required Privileges: Administrator rights

• Compatibility: Windows only

• Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories

Disable search suggestions

This action belongs to Disable search suggestions category. This category focuses on enhancing privacy by disabling various search suggestions in Windows, commonly associated with Cortana. Cortana is a digital assistant integrated into Windows Search, capable of collecting extensive personal data to provide its services. This includes your search... Read more on category page ▶

Disable Windows search 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 ▶

Disable OS data collection

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 ▶

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 Windows search highlights.
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

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

2. Type cmd

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

---

Windows 11

Windows 10

2. Copy the following code:

Code to apply changes

:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search!EnableDynamicContentInWSB"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search'; $data = '0'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' /v 'EnableDynamicContentInWSB' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Set the registry value: "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings!IsDynamicSearchBoxEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings'; $data = '1'; reg add 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings' /v 'IsDynamicSearchBoxEnabled' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Suggest restarting explorer.exe for changes to take effect
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$message = 'This script will not take effect until you restart explorer.exe. You can restart explorer.exe by restarting your computer or by running following on command prompt: `taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer`.'; $warn =  $false; if ($warn) { Write-Warning "^""$message"^""; } else { Write-Host "^""Note: "^"" -ForegroundColor Blue -NoNewLine; Write-Output "^""$message"^""; }"

3. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
4. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code

:: Delete the registry value "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search!EnableDynamicContentInWSB"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' /v 'EnableDynamicContentInWSB' /f 2>$null"
:: Delete the registry value "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings!IsDynamicSearchBoxEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings' /v 'IsDynamicSearchBoxEnabled' /f 2>$null"
:: Suggest restarting explorer.exe for changes to take effect
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$message = 'This script will not take effect until you restart explorer.exe. You can restart explorer.exe by restarting your computer or by running following on command prompt: `taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer`.'; $warn =  $false; if ($warn) { Write-Warning "^""$message"^""; } else { Write-Host "^""Note: "^"" -ForegroundColor Blue -NoNewLine; Write-Output "^""$message"^""; }"

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