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How to manage Windows 10 Search Box with Group Policy

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Many users find the Windows 10 Search Box useless and pretty invasive. We will see how to hide or convert into search icon with group policy (GPO) in a Active Directory environment.

Create Group Policy Object

  • Open Active Directory Users and Computers :
Run Active Directory Users and Computers
  • Move Users to a OU (Organizational Unit) :
Run Active Directory Users and Computers
  • Open Group Policy Manager :
Run Group Policy Management Console
  • Create GPO and link it to the OU :
Create a GPO
  • Give a name to the new GPO :
Give name to a GPO
  • Edit the GPO :
Edit a GPO
  • Go to User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry > Right click > New > Registry Item
GPO New Registry Item

Set Group Policy Object

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

Result

  • Restart your domain computer and open a session with user login
Search Icon
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