Managing the Windows 10 and 11 Search Box with Group Policy

Last updated: Nov 10, 2024

Many users find the Search Box in Windows 10 and Windows 11 unnecessary and rather intrusive. Let's take a look at how to hide or convert to a search icon with a group policy (GPO) in an Active Directory environment.

Create a Group Policy Object

Open the Active Directory Users and Computers console:

Screenshot of the Windows Run dialog box with dsa.msc command entered, showing administrative privileges.

Move the users for whom you wish to activate the strategy to an OU (Organizational Unit):

Screenshot of Active Directory Users and Computers with GPO USERS folder selected and a user entry displayed.

Open the Group Policy Manager:

Screenshot of the Windows Run dialog box with gpmc.msc command entered, ready to open Group Policy Management.

Create a GPO and link it to the OU:

Screenshot of Group Policy Management showing the option to create and link a GPO in the domain.

Give the new GPO a name:

Screenshot of the New GPO dialog box with 'Manage - Search Box' entered as the name, and no Source Starter GPO selected.

Edit the GPO:

Screenshot of the context menu in Group Policy Management with the 'Edit' option highlighted for a selected GPO.

Go to User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry > Right click > New > Registry Item:

Screenshot of Group Policy Management showing the option to create a new Registry Item under User Configuration preferences.

Setting up the Group Policy Object

Set parameters for New Registry Properties:
- Action: Replace
- Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Key Path: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search
- Default: SearchboxTaskbarMode
- Value data: 0: hide, 1: search icon, 2: show

Screenshot of the New Registry Properties dialog in Group Policy, configuring the SearchboxTaskbarMode registry setting.

Result

Restart the user's computer and log in with the user login.

Result on Windows 10:

Result on Windows 11:

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Managing the Windows 10 and 11 Search Box with Group Policy

Create a Group Policy Object

Setting up the Group Policy Object

Result