Microsoft Adds 1-Click Option to Disable Web Search in Windows 11
Updated
Updated · PCMag · Jun 2
Microsoft Adds 1-Click Option to Disable Web Search in Windows 11
3 articles · Updated · PCMag · Jun 2
Summary
Windows 11 will get a settings toggle to turn off web search results in Search, a feature Microsoft previewed at a San Francisco Windows Insiders event ahead of Build.
The option appears under Privacy & security > Search as “Show suggested search results,” addressing complaints that Bing-linked web results add clutter, slow the OS and confuse users looking for local apps.
Microsoft also signaled it may let users hide Microsoft Store results from Search, replacing the current workaround of editing the Windows registry manually.
Internal builds shown at the event also speed up File Explorer, improve bulk delete performance by 30%, and add other Insider features such as a movable taskbar and two-character search.
The changes fit Microsoft’s broader push to answer criticism that Windows has prioritized AI features over core usability and performance, though no release date was given beyond Insider testing first.