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To remove web results while keeping local app, settings, and file search, enable Microsoft’s Don’t search the web or display web results in Search policy—if your Windows edition supports it. Microsoft lists this policy for Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise, but marks it unavailable for Pro. The official documentation reviewed does not establish a universal Settings switch or supported workaround for every Windows 11 edition and build.
Turn off web results with the Search policy
Microsoft documents a policy that stops Windows Search from querying the web and displaying web results. It is a device-level policy, so confirm your Windows edition before following these steps.
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- Check your edition: Open Settings > System > About and check Windows specifications. Microsoft lists the policy for Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise; its policy table marks Pro unavailable. Do not assume the policy is available on Home or Pro.
- Open Local Group Policy Editor: Press Windows key + R, enter
gpedit.msc, and press Enter. This editor and policy are intended for supported Windows editions. - Go to the policy: In the editor, open Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search.
- Enable the setting: Open Don’t search the web or display web results in Search, select Enabled, and apply the change. Microsoft says enabling it prevents web queries and web results in Search. Microsoft’s Search Policy CSP documentation maps it to
SOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindows Search, valueConnectedSearchUseWeb. - Keep Search itself enabled: Do not enable Fully disable Search UI if you still want to search your device. That is a separate, broader policy.
The policy also has a Policy CSP name, ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Search/DoNotUseWebResults, for device-management scenarios. Its documented scope is Device, not User. If you administer a managed PC, use your organization’s device-management process rather than treating that identifier as a consumer Settings switch.
What changes—and what stays in Search
Windows Search can bring together results from your device, connected personal or work accounts, and the web. Device results include apps, settings, and files; connected accounts can include services such as OneDrive, Outlook, SharePoint, and other Microsoft services. Microsoft says web searches and suggestions from Windows Search are powered by Bing. See Microsoft’s explanation of Windows Search and privacy.
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The web-results policy targets web queries and web results. It is not a general command to remove local Search or connected-account results. The cited policy documentation does not establish that it removes results from every connected Microsoft service.
Don’t confuse web results with these other controls
Fully disable Search UI
This policy disables Search entry points, including the Search UI, keyboard shortcuts, touchpad gestures, and type-to-search in Start. It is not the right choice if you want to keep local Search available. Microsoft says this Group Policy is available starting with Windows 11 version 24H2 with KB5062660 and is unavailable on earlier Windows 11 versions. Details are in Microsoft’s Start policy settings.
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SafeSearch
Settings > Privacy & security > Search permissions includes SafeSearch, which controls filtering of adult content in web previews. It does not turn off web queries generally.
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Settings > Privacy & security > Recommendations & offers includes Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches. This is an app-launch personalization control, not a switch for web results. Microsoft describes it in its privacy settings for Recommendations & offers.
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If the policy is missing
If you cannot find the policy, check the Windows edition and version. Microsoft’s published policy table does not list Pro as supported, and the available documentation does not confirm a universal consumer-edition toggle or a supported workaround for every current build. Avoid substituting SafeSearch, search-history deletion, or app-launch tracking; those settings do not serve the same purpose. Registry edits found elsewhere should not be treated as a Microsoft-supported fix unless Microsoft documents them for your edition and build.
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