Windows 10: Taskbar/Cortana search window...

With the 1809 update, the taskbar search window changed:





The width of the initial search window is doubled in size. Is there a way to reduce the width to what it used to be in 1803? Or at the very least, is there a way to change the background color for this window? It's a jarring change, when the background switches to white once the search term entered...

The other issue is disabling web search. I have two systems, both with 1809 version. One includes web search:





The other does not:





Admittedly, I probably changed search settings awhile ego, but cannot remember what I did. The tutorial below did not help:

Turn On or Off Search online and include web results in Windows 10 | Tutorials

Any idea how to disable Cortana web search? Blocking both Cortana and Edge access to the the web would probably cause more issues than it's worth for...

TIA...

:)

 

Cortana Taskbar Search Not Working


Cortana taskbar search shows up but when you click on it, you cannot enter text. Also even though you can see the Cortana control panel listing when searching in Settings when you click on it it does not open. I checked and the Cortana files are in the System Apps folder. The Cortana process does not show up in Task Manager processes. It looks like some built in Win 10 Microsoft apps are disabledoing in Apps and Settings. See attached pics. Any tips would help fix this Cortana taskbar search issue will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Cortana search filter list


I have a lot of space for display content in Cortana search list, and 80% of it not used because Cortana sorting items by types.
How disable all filters and make visible all suggested content?

 

Windows 10: how to restore search bar in the taskbar?

When I right click on Taskbar, there is no "Search" in the list.