Microsoft is apparently once again assuming that you absolutely need the Bing search in your life. There is at least no other explanation for the fact that after an update for Windows 10, a permanently displayed Bing search bar is suddenly denounced on the Windows desktop. After it got increasingly difficult, Bing removed from the start menu, Microsoft has chosen the next target: your desktop. A Bing search bar appears on many Windows PCs after a supposed Windows update. At least you can just get rid of them...
Hide the Bing search bar: Here's how
The Bing desktop search bar is an automatically installed extension to the desktop browser juggernaut Edge. It takes you quickly to Microsoft's search engine - and by default it always remains visible on the desktop. To hide them, click on the three dots and choose Close search bar from the menu. In the same menu you can also check the box Automatically launch search bar remove to remove them permanently.
In addition to the desktop, Microsoft's brand new happiness bar nests in the tray area of the taskbar. You can recognize them by the Edge symbol. You can also turn off the search bar by right-clicking.
You will then be asked by a dialog whether you want to deactivate the automatic start. Just like you were asked if you wanted to turn it on. Not true…? Or... uh...
If you miss the bar after deactivation, you can reactivate it via the Edge browser. Click here in the menu More Tools – Launch Search Bar. Why not like that, you ask yourself.
Hey Microsoft: Please just leave it...
That in 2023 I still have to write articles on how to get rid of forced Windows features is just getting tiresome. Dear Microsoft, don't get me wrong: I have absolutely nothing against your introducing new features like the Bing toolbar.
But then at least ask instead of just slapping them on the desktop without being asked. That would be much nicer than having to expect any unannounced surprises with every Windows update.
There is a nice saying in English:shove it down one's throat". This could meanwhile be used to describe Microsoft's entire business dealings with Windows and Bing.
Admittedly, my growing resentment about the current software strategy in Redmond also plays a role here. From a personal point of view, I can – differently than Colleague Christian – unfortunately less and less with the current development of Microsoft products. The Edge browser has been so bloated and overloaded in recent years that I have returned to Chrome. I mean seriously, a COUPON SEARCH enabled by default in a web browser? It's a joke, isn't it?
And it is no different with Bing: Google or also Alternatives like Brave Search, Startpage or DuckDuckGo are plain… well, better. The pseudo-intelligence of bingchat don't change anything (especially since I'd rather do it right away to the original grab). I keep testing whether I can get there faster with Bing, but so far it just hasn't convinced me. If yours is different, I'm glad. But Microsoft really annoys me with its throat shoveling...
Luckily I'm using Windows now known only virtually and occasionally to gamble. But I'm clearly in the minority with that. Can it really be that people in Redmond are so unconvinced of their own products that they can't get ahead without being forced to use them?
Seems almost like that. But at least you can turn most of it off somehow. But don't worry: The next Windows update will definitely come...
You can find more about this and also about the beautiful sides of Windows yours at this link.
A big problem.
The Edge / Bing search bar comes back every few weeks when you start the browser.
I don't know if it's due to updates or if you use CCleaner, for example.
I would like to permanently deactivate this bar.
Short addendum: I found what I was looking for on tenforums.com.
As an alternative to the instructions above, you can also use the registry (see https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/203448-disable-microsoft-edge-desktop-search-bar-startup-windows-10-a.html). To do this, simply navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge (you can create the “Edge” key yourself if you cannot find it) and create a 32-bit DWORD there with the name WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup and the value 0.
You can also deactivate the search bar completely (see https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/203446-enable-disable-microsoft-edge-desktop-search-bar-windows-10-a.html): In the same registry path, i.e. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge, create a 32-bit DWORD with the name WebWidgetAllowed and the value 0. If you then go to "More tools" in Edge, the search bar is completely greyed out.
Take that, Microsoft! Until the next major update anyway ;)
Thank you for this and other tips! Unfortunately, this one doesn't work for me, the dialog "Do you want to close the search bar?" is not displayed and the search bar happily opens again and again. Let's see if I can't remove them some other way.
Nice rant at the end, which I fully subscribe to. After an interim high, Microsoft is currently moving in the wrong direction again. Unfortunately, this is currently the case for many tech companies.
As a part-time gamer, I've long hoped that Valve would somehow bring its Steamdeck/Proton success to the desktop. Once I can play almost anything on Linux, I'll finally leave Windows behind. The development around the deck really gives hope.
Thanks for writing this!!!!!!!