This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the desktop search bar feature in Microsoft Edge for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The desktop search bar powered by Microsoft Edge allows you to search the web and launch your favorite sites directly from your desktop without having to open the Edge browser first.
You can drag the desktop search bar to any location you want on your desktop. The search bar will open at the same location on your desktop as last closed.
You can turn on and off having the Microsoft Edge desktop search bar automatically run at startup.
If you open the desktop search bar, it will remain open, even if you close Microsoft Edge.
Reference:
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the Microsoft Edge desktop search bar.
EXAMPLE: Microsoft Edge desktop "Launch search bar" setting enabled and disabled
Here's How:
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 Enable Microsoft Edge Desktop Search Bar
This is the default setting to allow users to open the search bar.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Microsft_Edge_desktop_Search_Bar_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"SearchbarAllowed"=-
"WebWidgetAllowed"=-3 Disable Microsoft Edge Desktop Search Bar
This will disable and prevent users to open the search bar.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Microsft_Edge_desktop_Search_Bar_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"SearchbarAllowed"=dword:000000004 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 If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen Microsoft Edge to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
