The new search box is one of the first things you notice as soon you start using Windows 10. The search box appears right next to the Start button where we usually pin our favourite folders, programs and drives, and the search box is capable of searching the web as well your PC.
The search box on your Windows 10 taskbar is useful in many ways but the fact that we can’t change the default search engine of this search box is forcing many users thinking of removing it. That is, the search box on the taskbar uses Bing search engine to get results from the web, and there is no option in Windows 10 to change this default search engine to the popular Google search.
The other problem with the search box is that it takes considerable amount of space on the taskbar, isn’t an issue for large screen users though. Those of you want to get rid of the search box just to regain some space on the taskbar can configure Windows to show a small search icon on the taskbar instead of the default search box (check method 3 and 4 for instructions).
To remove the search box from Windows 10 taskbar, please follow the given below instructions. Note that the search box will continue to appear as a taskbar search box whenever you click the Start button or press Windows logo key on the taskbar.
Method 1 of 4 to remove the taskbar search box
Step 1: Right-click on the empty space of the Taskbar, click Search, and then click Disabled option to remove the search box from Windows 10 taskbar.
Method 2 of 4 to disable the search box on the taskbar
Step 1: Right-click on the empty space of taskbar and then click Properties to open Taskbar and Navigation Properties dialog.
Step 2: Here, under Toolbars tab, in the box right next to Search on the taskbar option, select Disabled option.
Click Apply button.
Method 3 of 4 to add search icon instead of the search box
This method is useful for those users who wouldn’t mind using the Bing search engine to get web results but want to free up some space on the taskbar by having a search icon instead of the default search box.
Step 1: Right-click click on the taskbar, click Search, and then click Show search icon option to show search icon instead of the search box.
Method 4 of 4 to add search icon
Step 1: Right-click on the taskbar again, click Properties option to open Taskbar and Navigation Properties dialog.
Step 2: Click on the Toolbars tab.
Step 3: Here, select Show search icon option from the drop-down box next to Search on the taskbar option.
That’s it!
Grateful reader says
Thank you!!! Windows sucks but I’ve no choice.
S Clark (Easy Bins Dumpster Rentals says
Today is 12/31/17. I believe this article to now be out of date. The Search Box has been replaced by a circle icon, and doesn’t appear to have a way to be removed
Gayle Berry says
I also have the search window popup constantly and have gone thru all the procedures to stop the popups to no avail. It just started recently on all my Win10 Pro computers. I’ve even tried going in the registry and search on Cortana and deleted all those entries. Is this a new Microsoft update or did I just get infected with it?
W. Madison says
The problem I have is the constant popping up of the search windows box while I am scrolling a web page. I am continually interrupted while I am scrolling and reading text. Help! I am ready to go back to windows 8 if I can’t get this box to stop interrupting me. The box pops up and says; Start typing to search for apps , files and settings.
jeffrey melton says
The problem I have is the constant popping up of the search windows box while I am scrolling a web page. I have disabled cortana thinking that would help but it didn’t. I am continually interrupted while I am scrolling and reading text. Help! I am ready to go back to windows 8 if I can’t get this box to stop interrupting me. The box pops up and says; Start typing to search for apps , files and settings.