You cannot fully erase Bing from Windows because it is built into the system, but toggling off web results in Settings stops it from appearing in your searches.
Microsoft made Bing a permanent resident of Windows, and for years the only way to block it involved registry edits or third-party tools. That changed in 2024, and a dedicated toggle now lets you kill Bing web results in Windows 11 Search with two clicks. The catch is there are actually three separate places Bing hides — Windows Search, Microsoft Edge, and the legacy Bing Desktop app — and each one needs its own fix. Here is exactly where each one lives and how to shut it down.
The One Toggle That Kills Bing in Windows 11 Search
Windows 11 now includes a dedicated setting that strips Bing results out of the search bar entirely. When enabled, your searches show only local files, apps, and settings — no web links, no Bing suggestions, no Copilot hooks in the search pane.
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to Privacy & Security > Search.
- Toggle Web results to Off. On some builds this label reads “Show search highlights” — in either case, flip it to the off position. Microsoft’s June 2026 announcement confirmed the toggle.
the toggle turns gray, and typing a query in the taskbar search box will no longer display web links or Bing-powered answers.
How To Change the Default Search Engine in Microsoft Edge
Switching the search engine in Edge stops Bing from grabbing your address bar searches, but it does nothing to the Windows Search bar. You need both fixes for a fully Bing-free experience.
- Open Edge and click the three dots (top-right) > Settings.
- Go to Privacy, search, and services.
- Scroll to Address bar and search.
- Under “Search engine used in the address bar,” select Google or your preferred provider.
type a search in Edge’s address bar — results should now come from Google (or whichever engine you chose), not Bing.
Four Ways To Erase Bing From Your Computer
| Method | What It Blocks | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Settings toggle (Web results) | Bing in Windows Search | Most Windows 11 users |
| Edge address bar setting | Bing in Microsoft Edge searches | Anyone using Edge as a browser |
| Registry edit (BingSearchEnabled) | Bing in Windows Search | Windows 10 or missing toggle |
| Group Policy (Enterprise) | Web search and Bing entirely | IT-managed devices |
| Uninstall Bing Desktop | Legacy standalone app | Anyone who installed it manually |
| PowerShell (Bing packages) | Bing widget/app packages | Users comfortable with commands |
What If the Settings Toggle Is Missing?
The “Web results” toggle is a Windows 11 feature and does not exist in Windows 10. If you are on Windows 10 or an older Windows 11 build that lacks the toggle, the registry method is the most reliable fallback. Important: editing the registry can break system functions — create a backup before proceeding.
- Press Win + R, type
regedit, and hit Enter. - Navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search. - Right-click the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it
BingSearchEnabled(exact capitalization matters). - Set the value to
0and click OK. - Restart your computer.
For Edge’s sidebar Bing integration, add a second key at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge with a DWORD named hubs_sidebar_enabled set to 0.
after restart, search the taskbar for a common term — no web results should appear.
Does This Remove Bing Desktop Too?
No. Bing Desktop is a separate legacy application that Microsoft no longer bundles with Windows, but it may remain installed on older machines or from a previous download. It appears in the standard programs list and uninstalls like any other app.
- Open Control Panel > Uninstall a program.
- Find Bing Desktop in the list.
- Click Uninstall and follow the prompts.
Bing Desktop no longer appears in your app list or system tray.
What Bing Remains After Each Method
| Method Applied | Windows Search | Edge Address Bar | Copilot in Search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web results toggle only | Blocked | Still Bing | Reduced |
| Edge search engine change only | Still Bing | Blocked | Still active |
| Both toggle + Edge change | Blocked | Blocked | Reduced |
| Registry edit (BingSearchEnabled) | Blocked | Still Bing | Reduced |
| Group Policy (no web search) | Blocked | Blocked | Disabled |
Erase Bing From Your Computer: The Two-Method Approach
One fix is not enough. Bing operates in two independent layers — Windows Search and your browser’s search bar — so you need both the Settings toggle and the Edge search engine change to cover all surface areas. For anyone on Windows 10 or a build without the toggle, the registry method is the same fix, just applied manually. Apply both, restart once, and the only Bing you will see is the one you choose to visit.
References & Sources
- Windows Latest. “Microsoft reveals you can kill Bing in Windows 11 Search and boost performance.” Confirms the Web results toggle and its performance impact.
