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To hide Search from the Windows 11 taskbar on managed devices, create an Intune Settings catalog policy, open Search, and set Configure Search on Taskbar Mode to Hide. This changes the taskbar presentation; it does not disable Windows Search across Windows.
Check support first: Microsoft documents this device-scoped policy for Windows 11 version 24H2 (build 10.0.26100) and later, on Pro, Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, and IoT Enterprise LTSC. Confirm the target devices meet those requirements before deploying. Microsoft’s Policy CSP reference lists the current support details.
Before you create the policy
- Confirm the Windows devices are enrolled and managed by Intune, and that you have permission to create and assign configuration policies.
- Verify each target device’s Windows 11 version and edition against Microsoft’s support table for ConfigureSearchOnTaskbarMode.
- Decide whether you want to hide only the taskbar control or disable Search throughout Windows. These are different policies with different user impact.
- Choose a small pilot device group and identify exclusions, such as shared workstations or users who need Search visible.
Create the Intune Settings catalog policy
- Open the Microsoft Intune admin center.
- Go to Devices > Windows > Configuration, then select Create > New policy. Portal labels can change, but the workflow is to create a Windows configuration policy.
- Set Platform to Windows 10 and later and Profile type to Settings catalog. Select Create.
- Enter a clear name, such as Hide Windows 11 Taskbar Search. Add a description noting the intended Windows versions and pilot scope if useful.
- On Configuration settings, select Add settings. Search for
Configure Search on Taskbar Modeor browse to the Search category. - Select Configure Search on Taskbar Mode, then set it to Hide.
- Review the configuration and create the policy. Assign it first to your pilot device group, then expand to production after validating the result.
Microsoft’s Settings catalog documentation describes how to add settings by category or search term.
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Choose the taskbar Search display mode
The policy configures how Search appears on the taskbar. Its Policy CSP path is ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Search/ConfigureSearchOnTaskbarMode; Microsoft documents it as a device-scoped integer setting.
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| Intune choice | CSP value | Taskbar result |
|---|---|---|
| Hide | 0 | No Search control on the taskbar |
| Search icon only | 1 | Magnifying-glass icon |
| Search icon and label | 2 | Icon with a Search label |
| Search box | 3 | Full Search box |
The documented default is 3 (Search box). When this policy is configured, users cannot freely change the taskbar Search setting in Windows Settings. For a single unmanaged PC, the local control is under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Search; see Microsoft’s taskbar customization guide.
Assign it safely
Because the setting is device-scoped, device groups are the clearest starting point for targeting. Intune assignments can also involve user groups, but test the behavior in your enrollment and shared-device scenarios rather than treating this as an individual user preference.
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- Start with a small pilot group of representative, supported devices.
- Use exclusions for devices where Search should remain visible. Apply assignment filters where they fit your organization’s edition, ownership, or device criteria.
- Use scope tags if administrators have delegated responsibilities for particular device groups or regions.
- After pilot validation, assign to the intended production devices. Check group membership, filters, and exclusions if a device does not receive the policy.
Do not promise an immediate taskbar change: delivery depends on device check-in, enrollment health, policy processing, and the Windows shell refreshing.
Sync and verify the result
- On a pilot device, trigger an Intune sync from Windows Settings or the Company Portal, if available to the user.
- In Intune, open Devices > Windows > Configuration, select the policy, and review its device and user check-in status. Check succeeded, pending, error, or conflict states and the device’s last check-in.
- On the device, inspect the taskbar. Then open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Search to confirm the setting is governed by policy.
- If Intune reports success but the taskbar has not refreshed, sign out and back in. If needed, restart Windows Explorer or reboot, then check again.
For deeper diagnosis, inspect MDM policy results and Windows event logs rather than relying solely on what the taskbar looks like.
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Hide taskbar Search or disable Windows Search?
Use Configure Search on Taskbar Mode = Hide when the goal is a less cluttered taskbar. It controls the taskbar display; it is not a command to stop Search services, indexing, or all Search entry points. Start-menu Search and keyboard access such as Win+S should remain available when only the taskbar mode is hidden, unless another policy changes that behavior.
If the requirement is to suppress the Search UI across Windows, Microsoft documents a separate DisableSearch policy. Its CSP path is ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Search/DisableSearch; an integer value of 1 disables Search UI entry points, including keyboard shortcuts, touchpad gestures, and Start-menu type-to-search. It is a substantially broader change, so do not use it merely to remove the taskbar box. See Microsoft’s Start policy settings reference.
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If the setting is missing or does not apply
- Check Windows version and edition. The current CSP documentation lists this taskbar mode for Windows 11 24H2 and later and specified business/IoT editions. Do not assume older releases or Home have the same support.
- Check delivery. Confirm the device is enrolled in Intune, has checked in, belongs to the assigned group, and is not excluded by a filter or assignment.
- Look for conflicts. Search other Settings catalog profiles, custom OMA-URI profiles, on-premises Group Policy, and other management tools for
ConfigureSearchOnTaskbarModeorDisableSearch. Conflicting configurations can make results differ from the intended value. - Confirm the selected setting. In the Settings picker, choose Configure Search on Taskbar Mode, not Disable Search, unless you intend to disable Search UI more broadly.
- Refresh the shell. After a successful check-in, sign out and in, restart Explorer, or reboot before concluding that the policy had no effect.
Fallback: custom OMA-URI
If the setting is unavailable in the tenant’s Settings catalog, an Intune custom profile can target the same CSP directly:
- OMA-URI:
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Search/ConfigureSearchOnTaskbarMode - Data type: Integer
- Value:
0(Hide)
Prefer the Settings catalog when available: it is easier to discover, review, and maintain. With a custom profile, verify the URI, data type, and value carefully. Avoid deploying both methods for the same setting unless you have a deliberate precedence plan.
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Rollback or change the appearance
To restore a different taskbar presentation, change the policy to Search icon only, Search icon and label, or Search box, then allow the device to sync and refresh. To return control to Windows rather than enforce a mode, remove the assignment or set the setting to Not configured, as appropriate for your policy design. Validate the result on a pilot: policy removal and refresh timing can vary, and another assigned policy may still enforce a value.
Other management options
For a handful of unmanaged PCs, use the local Taskbar settings. In traditional Active Directory environments, Group Policy offers Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search > Configure search on the taskbar; Microsoft maps this taskbar behavior in its taskbar policy reference. Intune’s Settings catalog is the natural option for centrally managed Intune devices, while custom OMA-URI is a fallback rather than the first choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hiding taskbar Search disable Windows Search?
No. Configure Search on Taskbar Mode controls the taskbar presentation. Disabling Search UI across Windows requires the separate DisableSearch policy.
Does this policy work on every Windows 11 device?
Microsoft currently documents ConfigureSearchOnTaskbarMode for Windows 11 version 24H2 (build 10.0.26100) and later on Pro, Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, and IoT Enterprise LTSC. Check the current CSP support table for your target devices.
Can I target users instead of devices?
The CSP setting is device-scoped. Test assignments against your enrollment model and shared-device requirements rather than treating the setting as a per-user preference.
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