Privacy and Security Enable or Disable Cloud Content Search in Windows 11


  • Staff
Cloud_Search_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Cloud content search for your account or all users in Windows 11.

Windows Search lets you search from your taskbar to find what you’re looking for, whether it’s on your device, in the cloud, or on the web.

Windows Search can personalize your search results by including your content from OneDrive, SharePoint, Outlook, Bing, and other services.

If you turn on the Microsoft account setting for Cloud content search, Windows Search will show results from items in your personal OneDrive, Outlook, and other Microsoft services. If you search the web or get web search suggestions with Windows Search, Bing will personalize your results. You can also earn Microsoft Rewards points when you search with Bing in the Windows search box. Windows Search can save and use your web search history with your Microsoft account so you can get more relevant web search results and suggestions.

If you turn on the Work or School account setting for Cloud content search, Windows Search will show results from OneDrive for Business, Outlook, SharePoint, and more from Microsoft Search. Windows Search saves your Microsoft Search history to your work or school account. To view the history associated with your work or school account go to the Bing Search History page and sign in using your work or school account.

Reference:

Windows Search and privacy - Microsoft Support

Learn how to connect Windows Search with your accounts in the cloud, manage your Windows Search and SafeSearch settings, clear search history, and more.
support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com


Contents

  • Option One: Turn On or Off Cloud Content Search for Current User in Settings
  • Option Two: Turn On or Off Cloud Content Search for Current User using REG file
  • Option Three: Enable or Disable Cloud Content Search for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Four: Enable or Disable Cloud Content Search for All Users using REG file




Option One

Turn On or Off Cloud Content Search for Current User in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Privacy & security on the left side, and click/tap on Search permissions on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Open Search permissions settings

Cloud_content_search_Settings-1.png

3 Turn On (default) or Off Microsoft account for what you want under Cloud content search on the right side. (see screenshot below)

4 Turn On (default) or Off Work or School account for what you want under Cloud content search on the right side.

5 You can now close Settings if you like.

Cloud_content_search_Settings-2.png





Option Two

Turn On or Off Cloud Content Search for Current User using REG file


1 Do step 2 (Microsoft account) or step 3 (Work or School account) below for what you want.

2 Turn On or Off Cloud Content Search for Microsoft account

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below you want to use, and go to step 4 below.

(default) Turn_ON_Cloud_content_search_for_Microsoft_account.reg​


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

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings]
"IsMSACloudSearchEnabled"=dword:00000001

OR​

Turn_OFF_Cloud_content_search_for_Microsoft_account.reg​


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

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings]
"IsMSACloudSearchEnabled"=dword:00000000

3 Turn On or Off Cloud Content Search for Work or School account

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

(default) Turn_ON_Cloud_content_search_for_Work_or_School_account.reg​


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

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings]
"IsAADCloudSearchEnabled"=dword:00000001

OR​

Turn_OFF_Cloud_content_search_for_Work_or_School_account.reg​


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

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings]
"IsAADCloudSearchEnabled"=dword:00000000

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

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




Option Three

Enable or Disable Cloud Content Search for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor


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

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

All editions can use Option Four for the same policy.


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

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

Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Search​

Cloud_Search_gpedit-1.png

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

4 Do step 5 (force enable), step 6 (disable), or step 7 (default) below for what you would like to do.


 5. Force Enable Cloud Content Search for All Users

This will turn on cloud content search for "Work or School account", and prevent using Option One and Option Two to change it.


A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 6)​

B) Select Enable Cloud Search in the "Cloud Search Setting" drop menu.​

C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below.​


 6. Disable Cloud Content Search for All Users

This will turn off cloud content search for "Microsoft account" and "Work or School account", and prevent using Option One and Option Two.


A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 7)​

B) Select Disable Cloud Search in the "Cloud Search Setting" drop menu.​

C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below.​

Cloud_Search_gpedit-3.png


 7. Default User Choice Cloud Content Search

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


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

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below.​

Cloud_Search_gpedit-2.png

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




Option Four

Enable or Disable Cloud Content Search for All Users using REG file


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


1 Do step 2 (Force enable), step 3 (disable), or step 4 (default) below for what you want.


 2. Force Enable Cloud Content Search for All Users

This will turn on cloud content search for "Work or School account", and prevent using Option One and Option Two to change it.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

Force_enable_Cloud_Search_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]
"AllowCloudSearch"=dword:00000001


 3. Disable Cloud Content Search for All Users

This will turn off cloud content search for "Microsoft account" and "Work or School account", and prevent using Option One and Option Two.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

Disable_Cloud_Search_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]
"AllowCloudSearch"=dword:00000000


 4. Default User Choice Cloud Content Search

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


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

Default_user_choice_Cloud_Search.reg​


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

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

5 Save the REG file to your desktop.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.

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

8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

  • Turn_OFF_Cloud_content_search_for_Microsoft_account.reg
    652 bytes · Views: 339
  • Turn_OFF_Cloud_content_search_for_Work_or_School_account.reg
    656 bytes · Views: 289
  • Turn_ON_Cloud_content_search_for_Microsoft_account.reg
    652 bytes · Views: 275
  • Turn_ON_Cloud_content_search_for_Work_or_School_account.reg
    656 bytes · Views: 254
  • Default_user_choice_Cloud_Search.reg
    602 bytes · Views: 241
  • Disable_Cloud_Search_for_all_users.reg
    628 bytes · Views: 311
  • Force_enable_Cloud_Search_for_all_users.reg
    628 bytes · Views: 274
Last edited:
Click to expand...
Shawn,
Step 7 of Option Two and step 8 of Option 4 are very bad advice.
Step 7 (O.2) and step 4 (O.4) should say: "If you're happy with the results, move the .reg file to your collection of Windows Tweaks for future use."

If you ever have to configure again (you own more than one computer, you buy another computer, you help a relative, friend or neighbor set up his computer, you're configuring all the computers in an office, or if you need to wipe and reinstall Windows), you really don't want to have to download each tweak again every time (and try to remember which tweaks you need and where you found them). Much better to keep all the tweaks you like in one location, with a master script to install them all. Then whenever you need to configure a computer, just copy that entire directory to the target computer (either over the LAN or via a USB drive) and type or click one one command to install them all automatically.

Way back when (Windows 95), it took me 3 days or more to set up one computer (install Windows, download and install common apps, configure a few basic settings, etc.) and I would always forget something and have to come back later when (or if) I remembered it. Now I can set up a computer in about 3 hours, and there are hundreds of more settings and tweaks now. And I can go do something else while the script runs.

This comment applies not only to this tut., but to the majority of tut's on all of your Windows forums. I know it will be a lot of work, but please make this fix on every tut. that involves downloading a tweak or patch. It would probably help a lot of people.

If you don't already have a tut. on how to make a master configuration script and use it, just ask and I'll write one for you.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    several (Dell, HP, custom build, Lenovo, ASUS, etc.)
    CPU
    several
    Motherboard
    several
    Browser
    Firefox
    Other Info
    I have many computers, mostly Dell and HP.
Hello @SpacemanSam, :-)

Folks can save the REG where they want. The Desktop is just a nice default to use for the purposes of the steps.

I leave how to use and keep the REG to the individual since everyone has their own way.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • 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,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • 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
    Windows Defender
Brink said:
Hello @SpacemanSam, :)

Folks can save the REG where they want. The Desktop is just a nice default to use for the purposes of the steps.

I leave how to use and keep the REG to the individual since everyone has their own way.
Click to expand...
It's important to test new software first before deploying it, and the Desktop is certainly as good a temporary location as any. I have edited my post accordingly.

And you're right, everyone has their own way of collecting and deploying their tweaks. I've seen (and collected pieces from) many of them. My comments were primarily to enlighten those who have not yet done so.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    several (Dell, HP, custom build, Lenovo, ASUS, etc.)
    CPU
    several
    Motherboard
    several
    Browser
    Firefox
    Other Info
    I have many computers, mostly Dell and HP.
GPO works like a champ on Win 11 Ent 22H2 22621.1848. Thank You, Brink
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    WMI says "To be Filled By OEM"
    Keyboard
    Plastic
    Mouse
    I have not seen any lately
    Internet Speed
    Insert AIM ICON :)
    Browser
    The first one I find to double click on.
    Antivirus
    Sandbox
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