How to Enable or Disable Search Highlights in Windows 11

This article explains how to show or hide search highlights in Windows 11.

Search highlights is a new feature in Windows 11 that highlights exciting moments in time right from the taskbar when you search Windows Search.

It allows users to discover what’s trending worldwide and within their organization. The search box in Start and Search periodically updates with content, including fun illustrations, that help users find more.

Enabling or disabling search highlights in Windows 11 allows users to control whether or not they receive updates on what’s trending globally and within their organization. If you find the search highlights feature distracting or unnecessary, you may want to turn it off.

On the other hand, if you enjoy discovering new and exciting moments in time, you may want to leave search highlights turned on.

Following the steps outlined in the article, you can easily enable or disable this feature according to your preferences.

How to turn on or off search highlights

As mentioned, users can enable or disable Search highlights in Windows.

Here’s how to do it.

First, open the Windows Settings app.

Then, select Privacy & security on the left and the Search Permissions tile on the right to expand it.

Next, toggle the “Show search highlights” button to the On or Off position to enable or disable it.

Exit the Settings app when done.

Enable or disable search highlights using group policy

Another way to disable or enable Search highlights is to use the Local Group Policy Editor.

First, open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc). (Search for “Edit group policy”) on the Start menu.

Then, navigate the folders below:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search

In the Group Policy details pane on the right, locate and double-click the “Allow search highlights” settings.

On the “Allow search highlights” window, set the option to Not Configure, Enabled, or Disabled.

• Not Configured (default) – Same as Enabled.
• Enabled  – turns on search highlights in the start menu search box and search home.
• Disabled – turns off search highlights in the start menu search box and search home.

Click OK to save your changes. You may have to reboot your device to apply the settings.

Turn on or off search highlights using the Windows Registry Editor

Yet another way to enable or disable Search highlights is to use the Windows Registry editor.

First, open the Windows Registry and navigate to the folder key path below.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

Next, double-click the EnableDynamicContentInWSB (REG_DWORD) name on the Windows Search key’s right pane to open it.

Then, enter a value 0 to disable Search highlights for all users.

If you do not see the “EnableDynamicContentInWSB” item, right-click a blank area and create a new DWORD (32-bit) registry item.

Then, enter the name “EnableDynamicContentInWSB” and enter a value 0 to disable it.

To restore the default behavior and allow the Search highlights feature, delete the “EnableDynamicContentInWSB” name created above.

Save your changes and restart your computer.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• Enabling or disabling search highlights in Windows 11 allows users to control the visibility of trending content in the taskbar search based on their preferences.
• Users can easily manage this feature through Windows Settings, Local Group Policy Editor, or the Windows Registry Editor, which offers multiple customization options.
• Whether users seek to stay updated on trending topics or prefer a more streamlined search experience, the flexibility provided caters to diverse user preferences.
• Following the outlined steps, users can confidently manage the display of search highlights, ensuring a personalized and tailored Windows 11 search experience.