Speed Up Your PC: Disable Bing Search in Start Menu

Boost Your PC Speed: Turn Off Windows Web Search in Minutes

Feeling the Start menu lag? Windows Web Search (the Bing/online results mixed into the Start search) can slow things down and leak queries to the cloud. Disable it to reclaim speed, improve privacy, and keep search results local. Below are two safe, reversible methods — pick what fits your Windows edition.

Why disable Windows Web Search?

• Faster local searches: The Start menu returns results quicker when it doesn't try to query the web.
• Less background network load: Stops unnecessary outbound queries to Bing.
• Better privacy: Keeps search terms on your PC unless you explicitly browse the web.

Choose your approach

Pick Group Policy if you run Windows Pro/Enterprise. Pick the Registry method if you run Home or prefer manual control. Both are reversible.

Option A — Group Policy (Windows Pro / Enterprise)

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Search
3. Double-click and Enable the policy: Do not allow web search.
4. Also consider enabling: Don't search the web or display web results in Search and Don't allow Cortana (optional).
5. Restart the PC (or run gpupdate /force in an elevated Command Prompt).

Result: Start searches will only return local results.

Option B — Registry (All Windows editions)

Use this when Group Policy isn't available. Always back up the Registry before changes.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows. If Explorer doesn't exist, right-click → New → Key → name it Explorer.
3. Right-click Explorer → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it DisableSearchBoxSuggestions.
4. Double-click it and set the value to 1.
5. Restart Windows.

Result: Web suggestions and Bing integration in Start are turned off.

Quick checklist — before and after

• ✅ Backup Registry if using Registry method.
• ✅ Test Start search: type a local filename to confirm quicker local results.
• ✅ If you need web results later, revert the setting (set policy to Not Configured or delete the Registry value).

Pro tip: If you still use web search sometimes, keep a browser bookmark for fast web lookups — but keep Start search focused locally for speed.