To disable search box suggestions in File Explorer on Windows 10 and 11, open Registry Editor by pressing Windows + R, typing regedit, and navigating to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named DisableSearchBoxSuggestions, set its value to 1, and restart your PC.
Quick Steps:
- Press Windows + R and type
regedit, then press Enter - Navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer - Right-click in the empty space and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Name it
DisableSearchBoxSuggestions - Double-click the new value and set it to
1 - Click OK and restart your computer
Why Disable File Explorer Search Suggestions?
File Explorer’s search suggestions can be distracting when you’re trying to find specific files or folders on your computer. These suggestions pull from your recent searches, web results, and other sources that might not be relevant to what you’re actually looking for.
During my years running a computer repair business, I helped a lot of clients customize their Windows experience. Some people liked the suggestions, but many found them intrusive or worried about privacy. The registry method I’m showing you completely disables these suggestions without affecting File Explorer’s core search functionality.
Detailed Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Open Registry Editor
Press the Windows key and R together on your keyboard to bring up the Run dialog box. Type regedit and press Enter. If User Account Control prompts you, click Yes to allow Registry Editor to make changes to your device.
Step 2: Navigate to the Explorer Policy Key
In Registry Editor, you need to navigate to a specific path. Copy this path and paste it into the address bar at the top: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer. If the Explorer key doesn’t exist, you’ll need to create it by right-clicking on the Windows folder, selecting New > Key, and naming it Explorer.
Step 3: Create the DisableSearchBoxSuggestions Value
Once you’re in the Explorer key, right-click anywhere in the empty white space on the right side of the window. Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value from the menu. Name this new value exactly as shown: DisableSearchBoxSuggestions.
Step 4: Set the Value and Restart
Double-click on the DisableSearchBoxSuggestions entry you just created. In the dialog box that appears, change the Value data from 0 to 1 and click OK. Close Registry Editor and restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
How to Re-Enable Search Suggestions Later
If you change your mind and want search suggestions back, just return to the same registry location and either delete the DisableSearchBoxSuggestions value or set it to 0 instead of 1. A restart will apply the change and bring suggestions back.
You can also use Winhance, the Windows enhancement utility I created, to manage registry tweaks like this one without manually editing the registry. It gives you a simple interface for applying and reverting Windows customizations.
Common Issues & Solutions
Problem: The Explorer key doesn’t exist in my registry
Solution: Right-click on the Windows folder at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows, select New > Key, and name it Explorer. Then create the DWORD value inside this new key.
Problem: Changes don’t take effect after restart
Solution: Double-check that you named the value exactly as shown with no typos. The registry is case-sensitive, so DisableSearchBoxSuggestions must match perfectly. Also verify the value is set to 1.
Problem: I’m worried about editing the registry
Solution: Registry edits can be intimidating, but this specific change only affects File Explorer search suggestions. If something goes wrong, you can always delete the value you created. Similar to disabling mouse acceleration through the registry, this is a safe and reversible modification.
FAQ
Will this affect my ability to search for files?
No, this only disables the suggestions that appear while you’re typing in the search box. Your actual file search functionality remains completely intact and works exactly as before.
Does this work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes, this registry modification works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The registry path and value are the same across both versions.
Is there a way to do this without editing the registry?
Not through Windows settings, but you can use third-party tools like Winhance that provide a graphical interface for applying registry tweaks. This gives you the same result without manually navigating the registry.
Will this disable web search results too?
This specific registry key only targets File Explorer search suggestions. If you want to disable web results from the Windows search bar, that requires a different registry modification.
Can I automate this setting on multiple computers?
Yes, you can export the registry key after creating it and import it on other computers. Right-click on the Explorer key in Registry Editor and select Export. You can then run that .reg file on other machines to apply the same setting automatically.
