Solved How to seal the search in the Start menu in Windows 11

Haorutia · Dec 10, 2022

I would like to prevent the search function within the start menu itself from being used in Windows 11 Pro 22H2.

The reason for this is basically that I don't want people to use any software other than what is on their desktop.
If this is too difficult, just not displaying the search window would be helpful.

Since this is a local environment, we cannot use a group policy that assumes there is a server, but we can use a local group policy.
Also, since the use of third party software is prohibited, it is best to use only Windows 11 features.

Finally, please forgive me for using the translation from DeepL as I cannot write in English.

Ghot · Dec 10, 2022

Haorutia said:
I would like to prevent the search function within the start menu itself from being used in Windows 11 Pro 22H2.

The reason for this is basically that I don't want people to use any software other than what is on their desktop.
If this is too difficult, just not displaying the search window would be helpful.

Since this is a local environment, we cannot use a group policy that assumes there is a server, but we can use a local group policy.
Also, since the use of third party software is prohibited, it is best to use only Windows 11 features.

Finally, please forgive me for using the translation from DeepL as I cannot write in English.

View attachment 47268

You should probably try this... first.

Enable or Disable Search on Taskbar and Start Menu in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Windows Search on the taskbar and Start menu for all users in Windows 11. Windows Search is on your taskbar and Start menu by default in Windows 11. You can use the search box to find your apps, files, settings, help, and more on...

www.elevenforum.com

Haorutia · Dec 10, 2022

Ghot said:
You should probably try this... first.

Enable or Disable Search on Taskbar and Start Menu in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Windows Search on the taskbar and Start menu for all users in Windows 11. Windows Search is on your taskbar and Start menu by default in Windows 11. You can use the search box to find your apps, files, settings, help, and more on...

www.elevenforum.com

Thank you for your answer.

I still think the quickest way to do this is to seal the search UI itself.

I know it's difficult because it's a computer policy, but it would be difficult to apply this condition to only some users, wouldn't it?

Ghot · Dec 10, 2022

Haorutia said:
Thank you for your answer.

I still think the quickest way to do this is to seal the search UI itself.

I know it's difficult because it's a computer policy, but it would be difficult to apply this condition to only some users, wouldn't it?

It might help if you'd explain a little more specifically, what setup you're dealing with.
Is this one computer with many users? Many computers on a network?

Using the reg patches, you can enable/disable for ALL users easily.
When YOU want to use it... just enable it. When you're done disable for all users again.

If there's a way in the Group Policy to do it for specific users.. I can't see it in the picture.
I'm on Windows Home, so I can't check the rest of the Group Policy options for Search.

I found these under HKCU (Windows 10, I'm on Win 10 right now)... I don't know if they'd be useful or not.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

I just searched the registry (HKCU) (match whole string only), ...for Search and for Windows Search.
I skipped any that looked like File Explorer or Macrium Reflect.

kelper · Dec 10, 2022

You can disable search, but what's to stop users downloading Voidtools' Everywhere? Or search in File Explorer?

Edwin · Dec 10, 2022

Haorutia said:
I still think the quickest way to do this is to seal the search UI itself.

The aforementioned tutorial does just that!
The Search Bar will be removed from the Start Menu,
you won't be able to invoke a search from pressing the Start Button,
WinKey+S will be disabled,
Search from the WinX Menu will be disabled.

Haorutia · Dec 10, 2022

kelper said:
You can disable search, but what's to stop users downloading Voidtools' Everywhere? Or search in File Explorer?

Thanks for the response.

Free software is not allowed in my environment.

I don't expect to use Explorer search very often, but I think it would be better to prohibit search only for users who normally use it, and not restrict it for administrator users who do maintenance, etc.

Haorutia · Dec 10, 2022

Ghot said:
It might help if you'd explain a little more specifically, what setup you're dealing with.
Is this one computer with many users? Many computers on a network?

Using the reg patches, you can enable/disable for ALL users easily.
When YOU want to use it... just enable it. When you're done disable for all users again.

If there's a way in the Group Policy to do it for specific users.. I can't see it in the picture.
I'm on Windows Home, so I can't check the rest of the Group Policy options for Search.

I found these under HKCU (Windows 10, I'm on Win 10 right now)... I don't know if they'd be useful or not.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

I just searched the registry (HKCU) (match whole string only), ...for Search and for Windows Search.
I skipped any that looked like File Explorer or Macrium Reflect.

Thank you

The computer is stand-alone and there are two users, one is a general user who usually uses the computer and the other is an admin user who does maintenance work.

The general user only uses certain software and tries not to touch other functions.
Conversely, the administrator may search for files to perform maintenance work, so we would like to restrict them as little as possible.

Thank you for finding another way to do this.
I will look into it based on the keywords you mentioned.

Ghot · Dec 10, 2022

Haorutia said:
Thank you

The computer is stand-alone and there are two users, one is a general user who usually uses the computer and the other is an admin user who does maintenance work.

The general user only uses certain software and tries not to touch other functions.
Conversely, the administrator may search for files to perform maintenance work, so we would like to restrict them as little as possible.

Thank you for finding another way to do this.
I will look into it based on the keywords you mentioned.

If there's only two users... I really wouldn't worry about it.
Just put a yellow stick-it note on the screen, saying "Don't use Search".

Create New Sticky Notes in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to create a new note in Sticky Notes for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Microsoft Sticky Notes app is the simple way to quickly save something for later, so you can stay in the flow. With Sticky Notes, you can create notes, type, ink or add a...

www.elevenforum.com

Edwin · Dec 10, 2022

Edwin said:
The aforementioned tutorial does just that!

I think it prudent to mention, it does not disable the new Desktop Search!:

kelper · Dec 10, 2022

You could try this utilty which makes it easy to block access to any program, file or folder. Install and run it from an admin account.

I have tried the free version and it works fine. The full version is only $9.99. It blocks all users in one go for any file or folder.

It will also block admin accounts, but any file or folder can be quickly accessed from within the AskAdmin GUI.

AskAdmin v1.9

AskAdmin is a quick and practical solution to restrict (block) Applications from being executed in Windows, drag and drop any App to block it

www.sordum.org

Ghot · Dec 10, 2022

@Haorutia

If you "trust" the general user... just show them what NOT to touch.

Haorutia · Dec 10, 2022

Ghot said:
@Haorutia

If you "trust" the general user... just show them what NOT to touch.

I guess I did not translate well.

There are two users in a computer, but the "people" using that computer are unspecified.

Ghot · Dec 10, 2022

Haorutia said:
I guess I did not translate well.

There are two users in a computer, but the "people" using that computer are unspecified.

I don't understand what you're saying.

Haorutia · Dec 10, 2022

Ghot said:
I don't understand what you're saying.

Sorry...

・Local Computer User
　　Administrator
　　User

・People who use computers
　　unspecified large number (of people)

Edwin · Dec 11, 2022

Haorutia said:
・Local Computer User
　　Administrator
　　User

・People who use computers
　　unspecified large number (of people)

Okay..., nevertheless, did you try the reg script? Does it suit your purpose?

Fabler2 · Dec 11, 2022

What's wrong with using two accounts. One an Admin and the other a local standard account? You can search in a standard account but not install/change anything. See @Brink 's reply here....

Redirecting

Haorutia · Dec 11, 2022

Edwin said:
Okay..., nevertheless, did you try the reg script? Does it suit your purpose?

This reg allowed me to get rid of the search window on the taskbar, but it remained on the Start menu.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\OFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search"

I have not tried the other one because I don't know what exactly to change.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\OFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

The best situation is for maintenance users to be unaffected and for general users to have no search window in the Start menu and no search.
This is because they will only be able to launch software with the icons on the desktop that we intend them to.

Haorutia · Dec 11, 2022

Fabler2 said:
What's wrong with using two accounts. One an Admin and the other a local standard account? You can search in a standard account but not install/change anything. See @Brink 's reply here....

Redirecting

We have maximized the UAC so there are no major problems, but we need to achieve as much as possible because the specifications submitted by the client specify it.

I think the best way to drop it at this point is to disable the search UI itself with a group policy using the computer configuration that the first person told us about.

Edwin · Dec 11, 2022

Haorutia said:
This reg allowed me to get rid of the search window on the taskbar, but it remained on the Start menu.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\OFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search"

I have not tried the other one because I don't know what exactly to change.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\OFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

The best situation is for maintenance users to be unaffected and for general users to have no search window in the Start menu and no search.
This is because they will only be able to launch software with the icons on the desktop that we intend them to.

I meant the reg scripts from Brinks tutorial:

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