5 Ways to Remove Bing from Windows 11
If you’re not a fan of Bing and looking for ways to detach it from your Windows 11 experience, you’re in luck. There are several methods you can employ to stop Bing from popping up or influencing your searches and system integrations. Here are five ways to remove Bing from Windows 11:
1. Disable Bing in Start Menu Search:
To prevent Bing search results from appearing in the Start Menu search, you can edit your Windows Registry. Here are the steps to do that:
– Press Win + R, type `regedit`, and hit Enter.
– Navigate to `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer`.
– Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named `DisableSearchBoxSuggestions`.
– Set its value to `1`.
– Restart your computer for changes to take effect.
2. Change Your Default Web Browser:
Switching your default web browser can reduce Bing’s prominence as Windows tends to push its own services.
– Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
– Click on ‘Web browser’ and choose the browser you prefer over Microsoft Edge.
3. Modify Edge’s Search Engine:
You can switch the default search engine in Microsoft Edge if Bing is not your preferred option.
– Open Microsoft Edge and go to Settings and more (three dots) > Settings.
– Select Privacy, search, and services, scroll down and click on Address bar and search.
– Click on Manage search engines, look for your preferred search engine, and set it as default.
4. Uninstall Bing Apps:
If you have any Bing specific apps installed, uninstalling them might help.
– Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
– Look for applications with ‘Bing’ in their name and select Uninstall.
5. Use Local Group Policy Editor:
For professional users, the Local Group Policy Editor offers an easy toggle:
– Open the Run dialog with Win + R, type `gpedit.msc`, and press Enter.
– Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search.
– Find “Allow Cortana” and “Do not allow web search”, double-click each of them, select Disabled or Enabled appropriately.
By following these steps, you should be able to remove or limit Bing on your Windows 11 system—allowing for a more customized experience that fits your preferences. Remember that editing the registry or group policy editor should be done with caution; an incorrect change could affect system stability. Always back up your system before making such changes.