Windows 10: Disabling Cortana, for real.

I wouldn't recommend this, so much functionality is now lost. What does work is the search at the top right of Explorer windows - intermittently.
No more Windows Key + F
etc.

 

Where's Master Chief when you need him?

Jokes...I want to follow this thread to see if there's solution to disable Cortana too, I don't use my mic all the time and speech commands on a desktop/laptop PC seems a bit silly to me.

 

Dear Sakuro,

I try that more then ounce and it may end on an unstable desktop environment. It will fully disable the left portion of the desktop if you delete Cortana (only right click will work on start menu). The search bar won't be enable no more. Is it what your looking for? There is no need to install anything to do so.

 

Any way of permenently closing the app? - Windows 10 Forums

Post #8

 

@MikeMecanic: I liked the old search function, as in Windows 8, where it was just a search function. If that's what remains when Cortana is turned off, I'm good with that. If I have two search features now because of Cortana, I'd rather get rid of Cortana and just use the basic version.

Edwin, Gary, and LetsWindows 10 have provided some options. Thanks guys. Some people more comfortable with that kind of tinkering may find it useful. I'd rather not do anything that might destabilize my OS, or download anything though. It doesn't seem like there is a "legitimate" way provided by Microsoft to do this. Would you guys like to keep this open for discussion, or should I mark the thread as solved?

 

I delete it many times but now I can work without it. It's the best place to search the entire computer architecture. I disable web search (Search online is OFF) and I delete Bing to make sure it wouldn't fool around. Plus a few components related to life at a glance.

 

I've come up with a temporary solution. By no means am I an experienced tech, so take my instructions with a grain of salt. Ctrl+shift+esc to task manager, right-click the "Cortana" process, "Go to Details", and from there, right-click searchUI.exe and end the process tree. It takes out Cortana permanently. I am unsure about the effects of this in the long run. Also, after disabling the process, you are able to rename the folder and even move it around.

 

Cortana introduction is nothing else then psychology. Keep it! You may need a fresh install if you go to far. If your afraid of it, then disable switch's in the settings page.

 

Renamed and moved the Cortana/Searchui.exe folder and it booted up fine. It has disabled the taskbar "Search" function, but Windows Search for the File Explorer still works properly. If you enable the Search icon/toolbar, clicking or trying to use that bar will result in your Start Menu being temporarily blank. You can click 'All Apps' and then click back to the Start Menu to see all the options again.

Edit: It doesn't seem Cortana has anything to do with Windows Search Indexer, because it still runs in the background. Also, there are quite a few Policy Edits that have to do with Privacy, that might need tweaking.

 

I just tried this, but when I delete the SearchUI.exe process tree, it instantly restarts faster than I can rename the Cortana folder in Windows\SystemApps.

 

If you are extremely adamant about wanting to remove the Cortana process, follow this process. Attempt to rename the folder. It should pop a "Try Again" dialog box. While that dialog box is active, switch over to Task Manager and end the process tree. Once the process tree is ended, quickly switch back to the dialog box and click "Try Again". You can also opt to not even confirm the renaming of the folder, and switch over to Task Manager with the name of the folder unconfirmed, and it will automatically give you a "Try Again" dialog box.


Edit: Also, in your original thread, someone posted a solution identical to mine, except he displays the original file name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy. This edit also works for the other background process, ShellExperienceHost, which seems to control the "Start Menu" and other Task Bar functions, such as Network and Sharing Settings that usually popup when clicked.

 

I've been running Win 10 from the upgrade since it came out, right away I turned cortana off.
Yesterday I decide to do a clean install of Win 10 pro,(BTW fixed several former problems). During my personal tweaking session, I tried to turn cortana off, it won't let me, slider under settings, just goes right back to the On position ? ? ?