Windows 10: Turning off start menu internet search

I finally got around to backing up my original dell image, and installing a clean Windows Pro image from Microsoft instead (been meaning to do it for a while). Dell didn't even originally give me the correct language version of Windows for my laptop, a minor annoyance but it did cause an annoying issue with language bar.

After install everything was working better than it did before. I have slowly got everything setup again and everything was fine until I tried to disable internet search from the start menu. In group policy editor I went to Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Search and enabled "Do not allow web search" and "Don't search the web or display web results in search". After restart search is still working as normal in the start menu! I also tried disabling Cortana in group policy (it was already turned off in settings) and nothing changed. I know there is a regedit for this and some related settings, but before resorting to just giving up and not fixing the problem I thought I would see if anyone had any ideas here.

Policy editor appears to be working correctly, I changed the update policy to notify for download and it shows this is setup in windows update settings.

:)

 

Start Menu Search

Hi,

About your issue regarding the Start menu or Search, in order for us to assist you better. Please answer the question:

• Were there any recent changes made to your system prior to the issue?

In the meantime, we suggest you to check this link:
Troubleshoot problems opening the Start menu or Cortana. It contains troubleshooting steps prior to the issue.

We'll look forward to your response.

 

quick search does not contains link inside start menu

Hello,



Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.



I request you to follow the below Suggestions:

1. The Search bar in Widows 10 is more fast and easy. You can search your program by typing it in Search bar.

2. You can use the exact interface of Start menu of Windows 8 in Windows 10. Follow the steps below.

• Click Start menu and select "Settings".
• Click on "Personalization" and select "Start".
• Turn "Use Start full screen"

I hope this helps you. If you have any further query in future, feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help you.



Thank you.

 

Weird start menu problem, I've been searching for hours


Hi, the 2nd picture is not a current start menu picture- and certainly not related to the anniversary edition- assuming you have the anniversary edition that is. (build 14393.51).

'All apps' has vanished from the start menu in the current build- that was in build 1511 from November 2015 until August 2nd when the new build was released. MS now lists all items the start menu finds as per your 1st picture. If you want something different, you'll need a replacement 3rd party start menu.

(I see 3 icons to the left of the list of programs in my Win 10 start menu- this is configurable in Settings, search for choose which folders..).

So your picture is of the current start menu, anniversary edition.

Suggest it's worth searching the internet for articles on what's changed in the anniversary edition.