Windows 11 offers multiple options to initiate a search. When you initiate a search using one of the options, the search home or search pane shows up, where you can type your search query to see results.
With default settings, the search home or search pane shows recently used apps on the left side. On the right side, suggestions (or ads that many like to call them) appear, which Microsoft calls search highlights.
The content that appears on the search home or search pane in Windows 11 might not always be relevant, and you might want to turn it off.
Fortunately, Windows 11 offers a setting to turn off search highlights or ads. You can toggle on or off search suggestions in the Settings app, Group Policy, or Registry Editor.
Turn off ads or search highlights in Windows 11 via the Settings app
Step 1: Open the Windows 11 Settings app using search or Windows + I hotkey.
Step 2: On the left pane of the Settings app, click Privacy & security. Now, on the right side, scroll down to see the Windows permissions section. Here, click on Search permissions.
Step 3: Scroll down the Search permissions page to see the More settings section. Here, you need to turn off the Show search highlights option to turn off all ads or content suggestions in the search home or pane.
Turn off or disable search ads via Group Policy in Windows 11
Note: Group Policy Editor is not available in Windows 11 Home edition.
Step 1: Search for Edit Group Policy and press the Enter key to launch the Group Policy Editor.
Step 2: In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search.
Step 3: Now, on the right side, look for a policy titled Allow search highlights and double-click on the same to open its properties.
Step 4: Here, select the Disabled option. Click Apply to turn off the search ads.
Disable or turn off search pane ads in Windows 11 via Registry Editor
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor using search. Click the Yes button when you get the User Account Control prompt.
Step 2: In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings
Step 3: On the right side, double-click on the IsDynamicSearchBoxEnabled.
Step 4: Finally, change the value data from the default “1” to “0” to turn off ads in search home. Click OK. That’s it!
You may close the Registry Editor now.
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