The default option in Windows Search is to bring up suggestions or “web results” from Internet, in addition to Local Search Results from data stored locally on the Hard Disk of the computer.
This happens, because “Windows Search” is built on Microsoft Bing, which is basically a web Search Engine that powers Internet Explorer and Microsoft’s Edge browser.
Disable Web Suggestions in Windows Search
While “Web Results” or suggestions from the Internet can be useful, they are totally unnecessary when you are only trying to look for files, desktop programs and apps located on the local hard disk of the computer.
Another good reason for preventing Windows Search from bringing up Web Results or Suggestions from the internet would be to speed up Windows Search by limiting its focus to the Local Hard Drive of the computer.
1. Disable Web Results in File Explorer Search
While the chances of File Explorer bringing web results or suggestions from the internet are rare, it can sometimes happen (possibly due to cloud integration) and has been reported.
However, you can easily prevent the possibility of Web Results appearing in File Explorer search by limiting the reach of File Explorer to the local hard drive of the computer.
1. Click on Start button > Settings Icon (or press Win + I keys).
2. From Settings screen, go to Privacy & Security > Search > Advanced Indexing Options.
Windows 10. Go to Settings > Search > Permissions & History > Searching Windows > Advanced Search Indexer Settings.
3. On Indexing Options screen, click on the Modify button.
4. On Indexed Location screen, click on Show All Locations button.
5. On the next screen, uncheck Internet Explorer History (if selected) and select only the Hard Disk.
6. Click on OK and allow Windows to Rebuild the Search Index.
2. Disable Web Results in Windows Search Box (Taskbar)
While some users find suggestions from the internet being useful and interesting, there are others who do not want to see “Web results” in Windows search.
Currently, the only way to prevent “web results” from appearing in Windows Search (Taskbar or Start Menu Search Box) is by creating a new Registry Key.
1. Right-click on the Start button and click on Run.
2. In Run Command window, type regedit and click on OK to open the Registry Editing screen.
3. On Registry editor screen, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows and create a New Key by right-clicking on Windows and selecting New > Key in right-click menu.
4. Name the New Key as Explorer.
5. Next, right-click on Explorer select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and Name this newly created DWORD as “DisableSearchBoxSuggestions” and hit the Enter key.
6. Now, Double-click on the newly created DisableSearchBoxSuggestions DWORD.
7. On the pop-up, change the Data Value for DisableSearchBoxSuggestions to 1 and click on OK.
8. Restart the computer for this change to apply.
After the computer restarts, you should no longer find Web Results appearing in search results, when you use Windows Search by typing in the Taskbar or Start Menu search box.
If you want to see Web Suggestions, you can either delete DisableSearchBoxSuggestions DWORD or change its Data Value to 0.
Note: Above steps disable “web results” only for the current User Account. Other User Accounts on the computer will still bring up Web Search Results, unless they have also been disabled.
Search Indexing Turned OFF
After disabling web results in Windows search, you may find Windows coming up with “Search indexing was turned off” message and prompting you to “Turn indexing back on”.
If this happens, try to use the Search Box and you should find it working normally and bringing up relevent search results from the Local Hard Drive of the computer.
If you are happy with Local search results, you can treat this message as Microsoft’s way of reminding you about the web indexing potential of Windows Search!