How to Disable Bing Search Suggestions in Windows 11

Do you get annoyed when you search for a file on your computer, but Windows shows you Bing web results instead? This guide shows you how to stop those suggestions so you can focus on finding your own files.

Why do this? Searching for files should be fast and simple. Web suggestions can clutter your menu and slow down your workflow.

What happens when done? Your Windows search box will only show items stored on your PC, making your search results cleaner and more relevant.

Windows does not provide a simple button to turn this off. You will need to use the Group Policy Editor or the Registry. For more details, visit the official Microsoft support page.

Understanding Search Suggestions vs. Browser Settings

It is important to know that Windows search and your web browser are different. Disabling Bing in the Start Menu does not stop Bing from working in Microsoft Edge. You can disable search suggestions in Edge settings without affecting your main browser experience. This change specifically targets the Windows 11 search customization features that pull web data into your local search box.

Using Local Group Policy Editor

This is the fastest way to change your settings. Note: This tool is typically available on Pro and Enterprise versions of Windows.

1. Open the Start menu, search for “Edit group policy,” and select it. Start menu

2. In the window that opens, follow this path on the left: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.
3. On the right side, find the item named “Turn off display of recent search entries in the File Explorer search box.”
4. Double-click it to open.

5. Select the Enabled option. This stops the web suggestions.

6. Click OK, then restart your computer to finish.

Using Windows Registry (Admin Privileges Required)

Warning: This method requires admin privileges and involves editing system settings. Always back up your registry before making changes. Follow these steps carefully.

1. Press the Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor. open the Registry

2. In the address bar at the top, paste this path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

3. Right-click the Windows folder on the left, select New, and click Key.
4. Name this new key Explorer and press Enter.

5. Right-click your new Explorer key, select New, and choose DWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Name the new value DisableSearchBoxSuggestions and press Enter.
7. Double-click DisableSearchBoxSuggestions and change the “Value data” from 0 to 1.

8. Click OK and restart your computer to apply the changes.

Summary Comparison

Method	Best For	Difficulty
Group Policy	Pro/Enterprise Users	Easy
Registry Editor	Home Users	Moderate

Summary

• Goal: Remove distracting Bing search suggestions from your Windows 11 Start menu.
• Methods: You can use the Group Policy Editor or the Windows Registry.
• Result: Your computer will only display local file results, making searches faster and cleaner.
• Final Step: Always restart your computer after applying these settings to ensure they take effect.