This article explains how to enable or disable the visual search feature, which shows an icon when you hover over an image in the Microsoft Edge browser.
The Microsoft Edge browser is the default browser in Windows 11. However, users can switch to their preferred or favorite browser anytime. Edge is based on Chromium, similar to Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers today.
Edge has a new feature called Visual Search that shows an icon at the top right corner when you hover over an image on the web. When you click the Visual Search button, Edge tries searching for additional content related to the image.
This feature is part of the Smart Explore functionality that offers users contextual options to discover and explore more content while browsing.
Turn or off Visual Search in the Microsoft Edge browser
As described above, the Edge Smart Explorer feature lets you discover additional content online when browsing. The Visual Search is part of the Smart Explorer functionality that allows users to find more content about an image when they hover over it.
Here’s how to enable or disable it in the Microsoft Edge browser.
First, open the Microsoft Edge browser.
Then click on Setting and more (Alt+F) 3 horizontal dots button on the top right corner and select Settings.
Next, click on Appearance on the left panel.
On the Appearance page, select the Hover menu tile under the Context menu to expand it.
On the Appearance -> Hover menu settings page, toggle the “Show hover menu on image hover” tile, then toggle the switch to the On position to enable.
To disable it, toggle the button back to the Off switch.
Your changes should apply immediately. Exit and restart the Microsoft Edge browser.
Turn on or off Visual Search in Edge via the Windows Registry Editor
Alternatively, users can use the Windows registry editor to turn Visual Search in Edge on or off.
To do that, open the Windows Registry, and navigate to the folder key path listed below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
If you don’t see the Edge folder key, right-click on the Microsoft parent key, then create the subkey (Edge) folder.
Right-click on the Edge folder key’s right pane and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type a new item named VisualSearchEnabled.
Double-click the new item you created (VisualSearchEnabled) and make sure the Base option is Decimal, and then update the Value data:
- To turn this feature on. Type 1.
- To turn this feature off. Type 0.
That should do it. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
- Enabling or disabling the Visual Search feature in the Microsoft Edge browser is a simple process that can enhance or streamline your browsing experience per your preferences.
- Following the steps outlined in this post, users can effortlessly toggle the Visual Search functionality through the browser’s settings or the Windows Registry Editor.
- Whether customizing browsing options or troubleshooting feature-related issues, understanding how to manage Visual Search empowers users to maximize their browsing experience.
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