Mastering Windows 11: The Ultimate Guide to Disabling Search Highlights

Click "Search" in your Windows 11 task bar.

Select the three dots in the top-right corner of the the search dialog and choose "Search Settings."

Disable the "Show Search Highlights" feature to remove suggested content such as birthdays and trending searches with flashy icons from the Search pane in Windows 11. There are multiple methods to achieve this on your PC. Here's how.

Search highlights refer to the information displayed on the right-hand side of your PC's Search function. While certain users may find this content useful, others may prefer to disable it in order to maximize available space.

The pane displays various content, including the birthdays of renowned individuals, anniversaries, popular searches, Microsoft Rewards, and more. The search bar may showcase themed icons related to the topic. If you find these items irrelevant, you can disable the feature, and no content will be displayed.

How to Disable Search Highlights on Windows 11

To remove Search highlights from your Windows 11 PC, use one of the four methods described below. Each method achieves the same result, so feel free to use any method you like.

Using Search Settings

To eliminate Search highlights, a convenient method is to utilize an option directly within the Search pane.

To access this feature, simply open Windows' Search function by clicking on "Search" in your taskbar. In the top-right corner of the Search panel, click on the three dots and then select "Search Settings."

On the page that opens, scroll down to the “More Settings” section. Here, turn off the “Show Search Highlights” option.

And that’s it. Your Search highlights are now gone, and you won’t see search bar icons anymore.

From Settings

Another way to turn off Search highlights is by using your PC’s Settings app.

To use this method, open Settings by pressing Windows+i. In the app’s left sidebar, click “Privacy & Security.” On the right pane, choose “Search Permissions.”

Scroll down the open page to the “More Settings” section. Here, toggle off the “Show Search Highlights” option.

Using Local Group Policy Editor

If you’re running Windows 11’s Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition, use the built-in Local Group Policy Editor tool to disable Search highlights.

To use the method, open your “Run” dialog box by pressing Windows+R. In the box, type the following and press Enter:

gpedit.msc

Navigate to the following path in the Local Group Policy Editor tool by using the options provided in the left sidebar:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search

Once you’re at the above path, on the right pane, double-click the “Allow Search Highlights” entry.

In the open window, at the top, choose “Disabled.” Then, at the bottom, click “Apply” followed by “OK.”

And you’ve successfully disabled Search highlights on your PC.

Using Registry Editor

To disable the Search highlights feature, you can utilize the Registry Editor method. This method involves adjusting an entry in your Windows registry. It is important to note that this method should only be considered if you have already attempted all of the previously mentioned methods and they have proven ineffective. It is crucial to exercise caution while making changes to your PC's registry as an unintended modification can render your system inoperable.

To implement this method, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the "Run" box.

2. Type the following command into the box and hit Enter: [command].

regedit

In the “User Account Control” prompt, click “Yes.”

In the Registry Editor tool, using the options on the left, head to the following path:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings

On the right pane, double-click the “IsDynamicSearchBoxEnabled” entry.

In the open box, click the “Value Data” field and enter “0”. Then, choose “OK.”

Close Registry Editor, and your Search highlights feature is now disabled.

And that’s how you get rid of an unwanted feature on your Windows 11 system. Happy using your PC!