Personalization Add or Remove Search Button on Taskbar in Windows 11


Search_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the Search button on the taskbar for your account or all users in Windows 11.

The Search button on the taskbar allows you to quickly use Windows Search (Win+S) to search for apps, documents, email, files, folders, music, people, photos, settings, and videos on your device, and to search the web.

Starting with Windows 11 build 26300.8772 (Experimental 26H2) and build 26220.9202 (Beta 25H2) for Insiders, Microsoft is increasing the height of the search box by 4 pixels.

References:

Customize the Taskbar in Windows | Microsoft Support

Learn how to use the taskbar features in Windows. Hide the taskbar, pin an app, change the location, and more with taskbar settings.
support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com
techcommunity.microsoft.com

Customizing search on the Windows 11 taskbar | Microsoft Community Hub

Search on the taskbar can be customized by IT admins and the users in their organization. Learn how.
techcommunity.microsoft.com techcommunity.microsoft.com

The icon or graphics on the right side of the Search Box is part of the Search Highlights feature that can be removed if wanted.




Contents

  • Option One: Add or Remove Search Button on Taskbar for Current User in Settings
  • Option Two: Add or Remove Search Button on Taskbar for Current User using REG file
  • Option Three: Add or Remove Search Button on Taskbar for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Four: Add or Remove Search Button on Taskbar for All Users using REG file


EXAMPLE: Search button on taskbar

Hide_Search_on_taskbar.png

Search_icon_only_on_taskbar.png

Search_icon_and_label_on_taskbar.png

Hide_Search_box_on_taskbar.png





Option One

Add or Remove Search Button on Taskbar for Current User in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Personalization on the left side, and click/tap on Taskbar on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Search_button_on_taskbar_Settings-1.png

3 Select Hide, Search icon only, Search icon and label, or Search box (default) for what you want. (see screenshot below)

Search_button_on_taskbar_Settings-3.png

4 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Add or Remove Search Button on Taskbar for Current User using REG file


1 Do step 2 (hide), step 3 (Search icon only), step 4 (Search box), or step 5 (Search icon and label) below for what you would like to do.

2 Hide Search on Taskbar

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Hide_Search_on_taskbar.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search]
"SearchboxTaskbarMode"=dword:00000000

3 Show Search Icon Only on Taskbar

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Show_Search_icon_only_on_taskbar.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search]
"SearchboxTaskbarMode"=dword:00000001

4 Show Search Box on Taskbar

This is only available starting with Windows 11 build 25252.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Show_Search_box_on_taskbar.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search]
"SearchboxTaskbarMode"=dword:00000002

5 Show Search Icon and Label on Taskbar

This is only available starting with Windows 11 build 25252.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Show_Search_icon_and_label_on_taskbar.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search]
"SearchboxTaskbarMode"=dword:00000003

6 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

7 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

8 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.




Option Three

Add or Remove Search Button on Taskbar for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor


This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 25295.

You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.

Local Group Policy Editor will only be available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Four below instead for the same policy.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).

2 Navigate to the location below in the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search​

Search_on_taskbar_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Search in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Configures search on the taskbar policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (specify) or step 6 (default) below for what you want.


 5. Specify Search on Taskbar for All Users

This will override and disable (gray out) Option One and Option Two.


A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)​

B) Under Options, select Hide, Search icon only, Search icon and label, or Search box for what you want in the "Search on the taskbar" drop menu.​

C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below.​

Search_on_taskbar_gpedit-3.png


 6. Default User Choice Search on Taskbar

This is the default setting to allow users to use Option One and Option Two.


A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below.​

Search_on_taskbar_gpedit-2.png

7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.




Option Four

Add or Remove Search Button on Taskbar for All Users using REG file


This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 25295.

You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.


1 Do step 2 (Hide), step 3 (Search icon only), step 4 (Search icon and label), step 5 (Search box), or step 6 (default) below for what you want.


 2. Hide Search on Taskbar for All Users

This will override and disable (gray out) Option One and Option Two.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Hide_Search_on_taskbar_for_all_users.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]
"SearchOnTaskbarMode"=dword:00000000


 3. Search Icon Only on Taskbar for All Users

This will override and disable (gray out) Option One and Option Two.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Search_icon_only_on_taskbar_for_all_users.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]
"SearchOnTaskbarMode"=dword:00000001


 4. Search Icon and Label on Taskbar for All Users

This will override and disable (gray out) Option One and Option Two.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Search_icon_and_label_on_taskbar_for_all_users.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]
"SearchOnTaskbarMode"=dword:00000002


 5. Search Box on Taskbar for All Users

This will override and disable (gray out) Option One and Option Two.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Search_box_on_taskbar_for_all_users.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]
"SearchOnTaskbarMode"=dword:00000003


 6. Default User Choice for Search on Taskbar

This is the default setting to allow users to use Option One and Option Two.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Default_user_choice_for_Search_on_taskbar.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]
"SearchOnTaskbarMode"=-

7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

8 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

9 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

10 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.

11 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

Last edited:
Click to expand...
I'm on 22H2 Build 22621.1105. I have the pill-shaped search icon in my Taskbar (magnifying glass with "Search" label). Settings/Personalization/etc. doesn't give me the choice of presentation style, just ON/OFF.

Will Option 3 give me the magnifying glass icon with no label?

(I don't want to apply the registry fix if it's not the thing to do for my release).
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 24H2i5-1240p16gbWhatever comes in it
OS
Windows 11 24H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G10
CPU
i5-1240p
Memory
16gb
Graphics Card(s)
Whatever comes in it
Sound Card
Whatever comes in it
Monitor(s) Displays
No external monitor. Yet.
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1200
Hard Drives
Internal 512 GB SSD
Desktop 6 TB, 1 TB, 225 GB, all HDDs
Portable 4TB SSD, 2TB HDD
A whole army of USB flash memory sticks
Mouse
Logitech M317
Internet Speed
500 mbps Fiber
Browser
Chrome
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Other Info
CalDigit TS4 dock for all my USB stuff, speakers, and connect to Android phone
HP MFP M277dw laser printer/scanner
Buddy said:
I'm on 22H2 Build 22621.1105. I have the pill-shaped search icon in my Taskbar (magnifying glass with "Search" label). Settings/Personalization/etc. doesn't give me the choice of presentation style, just ON/OFF.

Will Option 3 give me the magnifying glass icon with no label?

(I don't want to apply the registry fix if it's not the thing to do for my release).
Click to expand...

Hello Buddy, :alien:

I'm afraid in the 22621.1105 build, you can still only turn on or off the Search button.

The REG file in step 3 of option two will still only show the Search button in this build.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GD...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
Oh well...
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 24H2i5-1240p16gbWhatever comes in it
OS
Windows 11 24H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G10
CPU
i5-1240p
Memory
16gb
Graphics Card(s)
Whatever comes in it
Sound Card
Whatever comes in it
Monitor(s) Displays
No external monitor. Yet.
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1200
Hard Drives
Internal 512 GB SSD
Desktop 6 TB, 1 TB, 225 GB, all HDDs
Portable 4TB SSD, 2TB HDD
A whole army of USB flash memory sticks
Mouse
Logitech M317
Internet Speed
500 mbps Fiber
Browser
Chrome
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Other Info
CalDigit TS4 dock for all my USB stuff, speakers, and connect to Android phone
HP MFP M277dw laser printer/scanner
Tutorial updated to add options 3 and 4 for new group policy available starting with build 25295. :alien:
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GD...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
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