Block/Remove "Web"/Bing Search from Windows 10

Question

Is there a way to keep Windows 10 searches local and stop Bing results/searches?

Windows 8 has "Search Settings" => "Use Bing to Search Online". Windows 10 has Bing Cra...er... results included and no option to hide Bing in addition to the additional Search Icon on the taskbar.

This says that the Search Icon on the main bar can't be removed, but it can be hidden. Seems clunky and annoying that this "feature" can't be uninstalled or controlled yet, but whatever... at least it can be hidden.

Windows Key + Start Typing -> get local AND web results. Click on any of the results below the divider on the image below and get a Bing Results page. (Edit: Added pic that shows it searches Locally - the documents listed, the Windows Store - Apps listed AND Bing - stuff below the divider. Two of three are unneeded with what I feel should be a local search)

When this happened in Ubuntu (Amazon Controversy), they key was to uninstall "Lenses". Is there a known way to remove the web results from Windows 10 and stop "local" searches from leeching over into the world-wide-web? Hosts file entry? Service to kill?

Answer 1

One of the more recent builds (10162) supports doing this through the standard search interface.

Simply click in the windows search text box, click the "Gear" icon, and use the slider below the text "Search online and include web results".

Answer 2

Answer was found here.

Workaround, figured there would be a GPO for it. Bring up the group policy editor (gpedit.msc), go to Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->Windows Components->Search. Enable the policies called "Don't search the web or display web results in Search" and the one right after it that's for metered connections. That'll get it off the start menu anyway, the search app itself still uses Bing of course. The settings screen is obviously bugged.

Answer 3

I've been looking for a way to do this via GPO or script to push across my organization. It is important that this be a preference in my environment; if a user wants to turn it back on they should be allowed to do so. I discovered the registry key that controls this, so I can set it as a Group Policy Preference.

I will summarize the four ways to turn off the Bing web search (most of which were mentioned above) for future readers:
1) Manually
Type something into the start menu, then click the gear icon on the left.
User has to make the change. Not programmatic/deployable.
(screener & n1000)
2) Block via Firewall
Program is called "Search". Need to Deny the outbound connection.
User can change if they have permissions to edit their firewall.
When firewall blocks the start menu puts up a giant "Can't connect to Search, make sure you've got internet" message
(WernerCD)
3) Block via GPO
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Search\Don't search the web or display web results in Search
I tried the "Do not allow web search" but that didn't do it
This can be set via local group policy or domain policy. Users can change local policy if they have permissions, otherwise it is locked.
4) Registry
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search REG_DWORD:BingSearchEnabled 0(off) 1(on)

I'll be using #4 for my company.

Answer 4

For now, that's how it could be done (build 10130). Maybe MS would remove this from future versions.
1. Open Advanced Firewall panel -> Outbound
2. Find two entries named "Search"
3. Open their properties and change "Allow connection" to "Block connection" for both rules

The result is:
1. If I search for program of file, I don't have web results anymore
2. If I want to search web, I can select 'search bing for xxx' which opens bing site in browser
3. As I type, there's no more lags

Possibly, this could stop Cortana from working globally, but I never use it anyway.

Answer 5

The option to turn web search off is there, but it's accessible only if Cortana is OFF.

Press Win, start typing, and then, from left menu, find Options.

If you have Cortana, turn her off and the choice to turn off the web search will appear.

It seems you cannot turn that off if you want Cortana.

Answer 6

GPO didn't work for me on my most recent install of 10. The firewall one didn't work me either (I remember it looking different. There a new front end for it that I'm overlooking now?). I don't see/have "Search" rules/options in Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.

I've ended up using one of two options:

First, I used TinyWall to block "SearchUI.exe" from outbound connections. Any other firewall could probably do the same... I got semi-annoyed with having another application installed on top of Windows Firewall so...

Second, after some soul searching and a quick 'Ah-hah!' moment and I was back too Windows Firewall with Advanced Services. On my system, I'm not sure if it differs per system, I added a rule to block in Windows Firewall to this file:

Windows Firewall with Advanced Security:
General > 
    Enabled
    Block the Connection
Programs And Services >
    "This Program":
    %SystemRoot%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchUI.exe

I no longer have "outside" results in my search. Again, I'm not sure if the _cw5n1h2txyewy is my systems, all systems, version dependant... but it works. SearchUI definitely needs blocked at the firewall.

Answer 7

It seems to be Lavasoft Web Companion that is forcing Bing on users. Open that up and it supposedly gives you the option to default to another search engine. The Internet settings and browser settings seem to be repeatedly over-ridden by this app.