What the New Windows 11 Search Toggle Does
The new Windows 11 search toggle is a built-in setting that lets you disable Bing web results in the Start menu and search panel so that your queries return local files, apps, and settings instead of mixed online content. For years, users have complained that Windows search clutters local results with web links and Microsoft Store suggestions, even when they only want to find something stored on their device. Until now, the only reliable workaround was to edit the Windows Registry, which many people found confusing and risky. Microsoft is testing a simpler solution through the Windows Insiders program: a dedicated option to turn off online search integration entirely. This gives you a cleaner, local search only experience and marks a clear shift toward better Windows search customization for people who prefer to use their own browser or search engine for the web.
Step 1: Check You’re on a Supported Windows 11 Build
Before changing Windows 11 search settings, make sure your system has received the new toggle. Microsoft is rolling it out in test builds through the Windows Insiders program ahead of wider release, so not every PC will have it yet. Open Settings, go to System, then About, and note your Windows 11 edition and build number. If you’re running an Insider preview build, keep your system updated via Windows Update so these search changes can arrive when available. If you are on the stable channel and do not see the option described later, you likely need to wait for a future cumulative update. According to Ubergizmo, these changes are part of a broader set of performance and interface improvements that will be “rolled out… gradually to the general public in upcoming system releases.”
Step 2: Open the New Windows 11 Search Settings
Once your system is on a build that supports the change, you can disable Bing results through standard Windows 11 search settings. Click the Start button, select the Settings gear, then go to the Privacy & security section in the left-hand menu. This area already holds controls for search permissions, history, and cloud content, and it now hosts the new Windows search customization options. Look for entries related to search privacy and online suggestions; Microsoft has placed the new toggle with these controls so you can manage both local and online behavior in one place. TechSpot notes that “a new option in the Settings app… disables web (Bing) integration in search,” bringing a long-requested, straightforward way to remove web content from local search queries.
Step 3: Turn Off Bing Web Results for Local Search Only
Inside Privacy & security, scroll until you find the setting labeled Show suggested search results, which controls internet-based results in Windows search. To disable Bing results, switch this toggle off. This tells Windows to stop sending your queries to Bing and to stop blending online answers into the Start menu and search box. From now on, searches will focus on local search only: files, folders, installed apps, and system settings on your device. Ubergizmo reports that toggling this option off “completely deactivates internet-based queries,” removing the need for registry edits or third-party tools. If your build includes it, you may also see a separate option to exclude Microsoft Store apps from search results, which further cleans up what appears when you type in the Start menu.
Extra Tweaks and Performance Improvements
After you disable Bing results, you can fine-tune other Windows 11 search settings for a smoother experience. Check indexing options to ensure important folders, such as Documents and Desktop, are included so local results appear quickly. Microsoft is also improving the underlying search engine: future updates will accept queries with as few as two characters and speed up File Explorer startup and bulk file deletion. According to TechSpot, internal Windows builds have already achieved “a 30% performance improvement” for bulk delete operations, and these search changes are designed to align with earlier taskbar customization updates. Together, the new toggle, optional Microsoft Store filtering, and speed gains make Windows search less cluttered and more responsive, especially for users who prefer a focused, local-only workflow and use separate tools for web browsing.
