Stop SearchHost.exe from running?

Levitate11 · Apr 17, 2025

I've already shut off Indexing on my hard drive. I don't use it. FWIW, CoPilot has also been removed.

This beast (Searchhost.exe) is running a subprocess of Microsoft Edge WebView2 which is then running four subprocess Microsoft Edge WebView2 instances (with command lines longer than the list of citizens in Tombstone, AZ). All told, it's using 500mb of memory.

I can kill / stop the process, but it starts again within moments. I can't rename the executable because it's in use. Maybe I could sneak that in with a batch file that does a Stop and then a Rename... but that seems like the wrong route.

Hints?

antspants · Apr 17, 2025

Disabling SearchHost.exe may limit your ability to use the Start menu search or other search-related features in Windows.

You could try opening services.msc
Locate Windows Search in the list of services
Right-click on it, select Properties, and set the Startup type to Disabled.
Click stop on the service and click OK

Seems like a pretty pointless thing to do, especially considering the issues it may cause.

antspants · Apr 17, 2025

Alternatively you could possibly try disabling webview2? But again, there are implications.

This is from the web:

Yes, you can attempt to stop Microsoft Edge WebView2 from running permanently, but keep in mind that it may affect applications that rely on it for rendering web content. Here are some methods:

1. End the Process via Task Manager:
- Press `Ctrl + Shift + Esc` to open Task Manager.
- Locate Microsoft Edge WebView2 under the Processes tab.
- Right-click on it and select End Task.
- Set startup to disabled?

2. Uninstall WebView2 via Command Prompt:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Navigate to the WebView2 installation directory using the `cd` command.
- Run the following command:

Code:

setup.exe --uninstall --msedgewebview --system-level --verbose-logging --force-uninstall

3. Prevent Reinstallation:
- Disable automatic updates in Windows Update settings to stop WebView2 from reinstalling.

4. Modify Group Policy:
- Use Group Policy Editor to disable WebView2-related policies.

Keep in mind that WebView2 is used by a few modern apps, including Microsoft Office and Visual Studio, so disabling it might impact their functionality.

Levitate11 · Apr 17, 2025

antspants said:
Disabling SearchHost.exe may limit your ability to use the Start menu search or other search-related features in Windows.

You could try opening services.msc
Locate Windows Search in the list of services
Right-click on it, select Properties, and set the Startup type to Disabled.
Click stop on the service and click OK

Seems like a pretty pointless thing to do, especially considering the issues it may cause.

Oddly, it doesn't seem to be running in Services.exe. Windows Search is already set to disabled. But even though I can see SearchHost.exe running in Process Explorer, it's not visible in Services.exe (unless it has another name it runs under).

Do you know of specific issues that stopping it causes? I don't need CoPilot, I don't need MS's help services, etc.

antspants · Apr 17, 2025

I can’t answer your questions, I have no experience with this, likely because I deem it counter productive, sorry.

When I see members request certain processes to accomplish certain things on their computers, I have to wonder.

Sure, people want what people want (and thats perfectly fine) but more often than not, it’s not only going to make a minute difference, but also hinder the operation of their computer. The balance doesn’t seem justified.

I can’t comment on your particular HP Laptop because you haven't filled out your system specs properly and added the precise model. (most likely found under the laptop)
But I am going to guess it’s probably within 3 or 4 years old therefore probably more than capable of running all processes without the laptop being affected.

antspants · Apr 17, 2025

Levitate11 said:
Do you know of specific issues that stopping it causes? I don't need CoPilot, I don't need MS's help services

I believe it’s in the name. “Search”
What search functions will it hinder? not sure.

Disabling SearchHost.exe in Windows 11 can impact several functionalities related to the search experience on your system. Here's what you might notice:

The Windows search feature, including the Start menu search, may stop working or become limited. This process handles the search UI and indexing.
File indexing, which helps speed up searches for files and folders, will be disrupted. This could make searches slower or incomplete.
Features like search highlights and previews that rely on web-powered elements may no longer function.
Bing search integration and AI-enhanced search features may be affected, as SearchHost.exe relies on Edge WebView2 for rendering parts of the search interface

antspants · Apr 17, 2025

More and more often, I am noticing that Microsoft is adding a (often heavy) cost to disabling features in Windows.
Or maybe it’s just because I am on the forum that I am only just noticing it and maybe it’s always been like this.

KevTech · Apr 17, 2025

A couple of things I can think of.
Turn off Edge running in the background.
Edge > Setting > System and performance > System

Turn off Widgets in Setting > Personalization > Taskbar or disable it with group policy (why mine looks greyed out).

cereberus · Apr 18, 2025

TairikuOkami · Apr 18, 2025

SearchHost is like Smartscreen and StartMenuExperienceHost, it can not be disabled, only removed or blocked.

Code:

takeown /s %computername% /u %username% /f "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe"
icacls "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" /inheritance:r /grant:r %username%:F
taskkill /im SearchHost.exe /f
del "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" /s /f /q

Levitate11 · Apr 18, 2025

antspants said:
I can’t answer your questions, I have no experience with this, likely because I deem it counter productive, sorry.

When I see members request certain processes to accomplish certain things on their computers, I have to wonder.

Sure, people want what people want (and thats perfectly fine) but more often than not, it’s not only going to make a minute difference, but also hinder the operation of their computer. The balance doesn’t seem justified.

I can’t comment on your particular HP Laptop because you haven't filled out your system specs properly and added the precise model. (most likely found under the laptop)
But I am going to guess it’s probably within 3 or 4 years old therefore probably more than capable of running all processes without the laptop being affected.

Actually new, with plenty of HP. I just don't like errant processes that I don't need chewing up memory and resources. Eventually it becomes an issue. It also might be that I'm tainted, having started with Win 3.0 and worrying about things like manually relocating eligible programs to HIGH MEM.

antspants said:
I believe it’s in the name. “Search”
What search functions will it hinder? not sure.

Disabling SearchHost.exe in Windows 11 can impact several functionalities related to the search experience on your system. Here's what you might notice:

The Windows search feature, including the Start menu search, may stop working or become limited. This process handles the search UI and indexing.

File indexing, which helps speed up searches for files and folders, will be disrupted. This could make searches slower or incomplete.

Features like search highlights and previews that rely on web-powered elements may no longer function.

Bing search integration and AI-enhanced search features may be affected, as SearchHost.exe relies on Edge WebView2 for rendering parts of the search interface

Thanks. Nothing I need in that list.

antspants said:
More and more often, I am noticing that Microsoft is adding a (often heavy) cost to disabling features in Windows.
Or maybe it’s just because I am on the forum that I am only just noticing it and maybe it’s always been like this.

Getting worse with each release from what I see.

Levitate11 · Apr 18, 2025

KevTech said:
A couple of things I can think of.
Turn off Edge running in the background.
Edge > Setting > System and performance > System

View attachment 131499

Turn off Widgets in Setting > Personalization > Taskbar or disable it with group policy (why mine looks greyed out).

View attachment 131501

Thanks. I think @TairikuOkami 's bat file covered my current problem. But, I did find some things to shut off in Edge with the first pointer.

Oddly, on the second one, I don't see a setting for Widgets in there. I do recall shutting down widgets along with a lot of other things when I first started using Win 11 a week or so ago. More unneeded stuff running IMO.

Levitate11 · Apr 18, 2025

TairikuOkami said:

SearchHost is like Smartscreen and StartMenuExperienceHost, it can not be disabled, only removed or blocked.

Code:

takeown /s %computername% /u %username% /f "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe"
icacls "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" /inheritance:r /grant:r %username%:F
taskkill /im SearchHost.exe /f
del "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" /s /f /q

Thanks, @TairikuOkami . So it was what I mentioned up top... kill it and disposing of the executable before it can restart. LOL.

FWIW, I changed the last line to:

Code:

ren "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" searchhostSAVE.exe

I don't like to make things permanent if I don't have to. Also, for anyone trying this, you need to run the bat file in Administrator mode.

Thanks for the help. I don't know the Window Command Language nearly well enough to have written the other code in there without (at least) an hour of learning.

TairikuOkami · Apr 18, 2025

Levitate11 said:
I don't like to make things permanent if I don't have to.

SFC scan restores the file.

Levitate11 said:
I do recall shutting down widgets along with a lot of other things when I first started using Win 11 a week or so ago.

Yes, widgets were a huge annoyance, but you can uninstall and disable them.

Code:

start "" /wait C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe "Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name "Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime" | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers"
start "" /wait C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe "Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name "MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience" | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers"

reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "TaskbarDa" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\NewsAndInterests\AllowNewsAndInterests" /v "value" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh" /v "AllowNewsAndInterests" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f

Levitate11 said:
I did find some things to shut off in Edge with the first pointer.

Yes, shutting Edge down was an issue, but no longer, once I close it, it stays closed. Not sure, which tweaks do it though.

garlin · Apr 18, 2025

Deleting or renaming "Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" is not a permanent fix, unless you disable Windows Update.

That's because Client.CBS is included in the current Monthly Update. You would have to stop updating, or repeat this process every month.

Code:

"CBS\SearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:19","51,200"
"CBS\MiniSearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:19","10,240"
"CBS\FESearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:19","51,200"
"CBS\SearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:36","48,640"
"CBS\MiniSearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:36","10,752"
"CBS\FESearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:36","49,152"

TairikuOkami · Apr 18, 2025

garlin said:
Deleting or renaming "Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" is not a permanent fix, unless you disable Windows Update.

I turn off PC with this "fix", but it is easy to create a scheduled task.

Levitate11 · Apr 18, 2025

garlin said:
Deleting or renaming "Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" is not a permanent fix, unless you disable Windows Update.

That's because Client.CBS is included in the current Monthly Update. You would have to stop updating, or repeat this process every month.

Code:

"CBS\SearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:19","51,200" "CBS\MiniSearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:19","10,240" "CBS\FESearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:19","51,200" "CBS\SearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:36","48,640" "CBS\MiniSearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:36","10,752" "CBS\FESearchHost.exe","2125.4600.10.0","09-Apr-2025","07:36","49,152"

Thanks. Good to know.

Barkermush · Jul 22, 2025

Levitate11 said:
Thanks, @TairikuOkami . So it was what I mentioned up top... kill it and disposing of the executable before it can restart. LOL.

FWIW, I changed the last line to:

Code:

ren "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" searchhostSAVE.exe

I don't like to make things permanent if I don't have to. Also, for anyone trying this, you need to run the bat file in Administrator mode.

Thanks for the help. I don't know the Window Command Language nearly well enough to have written the other code in there without (at least) an hour of learning.

I've been searching for months on how to remove Search Host, sick of the thing eating my memory and resources.

I'm very basic with bat files.
I just copy the code into a text document and save it as .bat and double click to run?

Edit:

So I ran

Code:

takeown /s LAPTOP-KTECDKUA /u Barkermush /f "C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe"
icacls "C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" /inheritance:r /grant:r Barkermush:F
taskkill /im SearchHost.exe /f
ren "C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" searchhostSAVE.exe

It closed SearchHost for a few seconds, but then it opened up again like always

Edit-Edit:

Never-mind, I didn't run the bat as administrator. Once I ran it as administrator, it stayed dead this time.. finally!

Thank you so much!! @ TairikuOkami

Sqrly · Sep 1, 2025

This is the same stuff they pulled in 10, they just changed the name of the folder. The same fix I use on 10 works on 11.

If I want to search for stuff on my PC, I open windows explorer. If I want to search for things on the internet, I open a web browser. I neither need nor want search boxes everywhere so anything that may not function because I prevented SearchHost.exe from running is something M.$ is shoving in my face that I don't want.

Reboot into safe mode with command prompt.

Navigate X:\Windows\SystemApps\

Code:

move MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy.old

Everytime there's a 'feature' update, M.$ will recreate the folder against your wishes and you will have to whack that mole again.

Reboot in safe mode again with command prompt.

Navigate X:\Windows\SystemApps\

Code:

rd /s MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy.old

Code:

move MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy.old

I prefer to rename it instead of delete it because, reasons.

garlin · Sep 1, 2025

Reddit sometimes will get it right.

Code:

vivetool.exe /disable /id:37926450

If you prefer the old-fashioned reg file, instead of ViveTool.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\8\1694661260]
"EnabledState"=dword:00000001
"EnabledStateOptions"=dword:00000000
"Variant"=dword:00000000
"VariantPayload"=dword:00000000
"VariantPayloadKind"=dword:00000000

Stop SearchHost.exe from running?

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