Windows 10: Enable or Disable Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer

How to: Enable or Disable Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer

How to Enable or Disable Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer


Information By default, the search box in File Explorer will show a list of suggestions as you type in the search box. These suggestions are the history of your past typed searches into the search box.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable search history for File Explorer Search Box suggestions for specific or all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable File Explorer search history.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Enable or Disable Search History in File Explorer using Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Two: To Enable or Disable Search History in File Explorer using a BAT file

EXAMPLE: Search history in File Explorer









OPTION ONE [/i] To Enable or Disable Search History in File Explorer using Local Group Policy Editor


Note The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two.


1. Open the all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and File Explorer. (see screenshot below)



3. In the right pane of File Explorer, double click/tap on Turn off display of recent search entries in the File Explorer search box to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


5. To Enable Search History in File Explorer
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.

6. To Disable Search History in File Explorer
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)




7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.





OPTION TWO [/i] To Enable or Disable Search History in File Explorer using a BAT file


Note The .bat files below will modify the DWORD value below in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

DisableSearchBoxSuggestions DWORD

<delete> = Enable
1 = Disable


1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Enable Search History in File Explorer for All Users
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_File_Explorer_Search_History.bat

Download

3. To Disable Search History in File Explorer for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_File_Explorer_Search_History.bat

Download
4. Save the .bat file to your desktop.

5. Unblock the .bat file.

6. Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

7. Click/tap on Yes if prompted by (UAC).

8. You will now notice your screen flicker as a command prompt quickly opens and closes and restarts explorer to apply the registry changes.

9. You can now delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Search in File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Change Search Options in Windows 10
• How to Clear File Explorer Search History in Windows 10
• How to Save a Search in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Device and Search History for On-device Searches in Windows 10

:)

 

How do disable search history in file explorer?


Hello, I was wondering how do I completely disable the search history in the search box in file explorer? I found this guide, but this is for erasing only. Clear File Explorer History in Windows 10 Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

I want to completely disable the search function. Windows 8 had this option: Search Suggestions in File Explorer - Enable or Disable in Windows 8 but it didn't work for Windows 10.

Thank you!

 

How do disable search history in file explorer?


Edit: I think this is what your looking for .... it works, just tried it

Enable or Disable Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer Windows 10 General Tips Tutorials

 

File explorer search history is not clearing


Hi

I have gone through all the steps in the following thread, but my file search history is not clearing or updating. Search terms clear, but the old search reappears with deleted files on it.

Search History in File Explorer - Clear in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Any help would be appreciated.

 

How do disable search history in file explorer?

Hey that worked! Thanks man! It's strange I had the same registry values already but it didn't work. So then I deleted the entire explorer key, remade it per instruction, restarted the computer, then it worked!

 

How do disable search history in file explorer?

Thanks for the reply. Sorry I wasn't being clear. I meant I just need to disable search HISTORY. I still want to have the search box. In Windows 8 there is a way so there's no auto-fill or suggestion or history when you type in the search box. My old Windows 10 was like that, but then it was upgraded from Windows 8.

In essence I still want search, but I'm looking for a way so Windows 10 doesn't record any recent search history.