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How to completely remove the search box from File Explorer in Windows 10 RRS feed

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    Hi All,

    how can I completely remove the search box/field from File Explorer in Windows 10 Pro (64-Bit)? In Windows 7, the option to disable Windows search in Programs and Features did the job but this is no longer available in Windows 10. The fix also needs to apply to "Open" and "Save-As" dialogs in apps such as notepad etc.

    Disabling the Windows Search service does not remove the search box and still allows sub-folders/files in hidden folders to be searched.

    Thanks,

    J 


    • Edited by John_AC Monday, February 19, 2018 3:01 PM
    Monday, February 19, 2018 11:54 AM

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    Look at below thread same like this,

    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/cbd83122-6cbc-49bd-8384-242b38465d9d/hide-search-in-start-menu-and-explorer?forum=winserverGP

    Disable Cortana and Search bar as here,

    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/ie/en-US/af677b8e-f30d-4fbc-a3b7-cd70c001c89f/windows-10-remove-cortanasearch-box-from-task-bar-via-gpo-for-osd?forum=win10itprosetup

    Monday, February 19, 2018 2:46 PM
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    Am 19.02.2018 um 12:54 schrieb John_AC:
    > how can I completely remove the search box/field from File Explorer in
    > Windows 10 Pro (64-Bit)?
     
    Why? That makes no sense. "Seeing" and "finding" is not a security issue.
     
    As long the Windows Search ist still called "search" and not "Find", it
    will not really find interisting things ...
     
     
    Mark
    --
    Mark Heitbrink - MVP Group Policy - Cloud and Datacenter Management
     
    Homepage:  http://www.gruppenrichtlinien.de - deutsch
     
    GET Privacy and DISABLE Telemetry on Windows 10 - gp-pack PaT
     
    Monday, February 19, 2018 2:48 PM
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    The reason for wanting to remove the search box in file explorer is to ensure that users can only save files into specified folders (i.e. the folders on the root C:\ which are not hidden). However when the search box is present, it does return results for folders, into which the files can then be saved.  
    Monday, February 19, 2018 7:36 PM
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    Look at below thread same like this,

    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/cbd83122-6cbc-49bd-8384-242b38465d9d/hide-search-in-start-menu-and-explorer?forum=winserverGP

    Disable Cortana and Search bar as here,

    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/ie/en-US/af677b8e-f30d-4fbc-a3b7-cd70c001c89f/windows-10-remove-cortanasearch-box-from-task-bar-via-gpo-for-osd?forum=win10itprosetup


    The first thread is for Windows Server (my system is Windows 10).

    Regarding the second thread, this is related to the search box on the taskbar, not search in File explorer.

    Tuesday, February 20, 2018 4:31 PM
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    Hi John,

    This is a puzzle since Windows 8.1. I am afraid that it still cannot be done in Windows 10. I have to admit that the process in Windows 7 is much easier than further Windows since Windows search was a removable feature of previous Windows version and Integrated into shell UI as posted on his reply. Instead of disable that, if you don’t want some files show up under search result, it has a variety of group policy for search result control. They are under Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates-Windows Components->search, turn-Off Windows 10 search indexing and Windows search service.

    Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
    If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com.

    Tuesday, February 20, 2018 4:41 PM
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    the option to disable Windows search in Programs and Features did the job but this is no longer available in Windows 10. 

    It was only removed from the GUI.  The DISM function it is based on is still present

    PS>Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | where FeatureName -match "search"


    FeatureName : SearchEngine-Client-Package
    State       : Enabled


    Robert Aldwinckle
    ---

    Tuesday, February 20, 2018 10:57 PM
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    the option to disable Windows search in Programs and Features did the job but this is no longer available in Windows 10. 

    It was only removed from the GUI.  The DISM function it is based on is still present

    PS>Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online | where FeatureName -match "search"


    FeatureName : SearchEngine-Client-Package
    State       : Enabled


    Robert Aldwinckle
    ---

    Hi Robert, I tried this (i.e. disabling SearchEngine-Client-Package in powershell) and restarted the PC but the search box is still present in File Explorer and it does search when text is entered (see screenshot). Any ideas?

    thanks

    Tuesday, March 6, 2018 4:18 PM
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    the search box is still present in File Explorer and it does search when text is entered (see screenshot). Any ideas?

    That's disappointing.  So, what is the DISM doing?  There is still the -Remove option but I guess we haven't found the right component to try to get rid of.  I was remembering a Windows 8 incident where the UI was impaired in the way that you would like to make it (or maybe it was only disabled) and this is how we fixed it.


    Robert Aldwinckle
    ---

    Tuesday, March 6, 2018 6:59 PM
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    Hi John,

    This is a puzzle since Windows 8.1. I am afraid that it still cannot be done in Windows 10. I have to admit that the process in Windows 7 is much easier than further Windows since Windows search was a removable feature of previous Windows version and Integrated into shell UI as posted on his reply. Instead of disable that, if you don’t want some files show up under search result, it has a variety of group policy for search result control. They are under Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates-Windows Components->search, turn-Off Windows 10 search indexing and Windows search service.

    Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
    If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com.

    Hi Kate,

    do you know which specific policy settings (screenshot below) I need to change to get the correct setup (i.e. to ensure that users can only save files into specified folders (folders on the root C:\ which are not hidden) and not into any other folders which are "found" via the search box?

    Thanks

    Wednesday, March 7, 2018 12:30 PM
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    Am 19.02.2018 um 20:36 schrieb John_AC:
    > The reason for wanting to remove the search box in file explorer is to
    > ensure that users can only save files into specified folders (i.e. the
    > folders on the root C:\ which are not hidden).
     
    Thats what NTFS permissions are made for ...
     
    Mark
    --
    Mark Heitbrink - MVP Group Policy - Cloud and Datacenter Management
     
    Homepage:  http://www.gruppenrichtlinien.de - deutsch
     
    GET Privacy and DISABLE Telemetry on Windows 10 - gp-pack PaT
     
    Wednesday, March 7, 2018 12:36 PM
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    I think the question is about the search box at the top of File Explorer, not the Windows Taskbar.   I have the same question.  I want to see the path to my file and the search box is wasting a good part of that space.
    Monday, November 12, 2018 8:35 AM
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    I want to make my windows smaller and I want that space to be used by the PATH box - I don't want it shortened because the search box (which I never use - I have a much better 3rd party search) is wasting a large part of the area - I want the whole area used for the path to my file, so the actual filename is not cut off because of the useless (to me) search box.
    Monday, November 12, 2018 8:38 AM
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    I recently began using Windows 10 and I'm rapidly getting fed up with this downgrade of customer control of their interface.  I've been trying to find out how to put FOLDERS & FILES that I use constantly, on the taskbar where they are always quickly accessible.  Apparently, the methods that used to work, have been removed by the latest Windows 10 "update" (read "downgrade") because none of them work now.  I'm going to try restoring my PC with an image file to before the last drive-by "update" to see if there is any joy there.  Frankly, returning to Linux is looking better by the day.  Windows XP was the last Microsoft OS that was worth the money, as far as the CUSTOMER/USER INTERFACE experience/control goes.

    I don't use the search box at all.  The search app I use is 100 times faster and doesn't required indexing (it uses an algorithm with the MBR).  I just want this useless (to me) item removed from File Explorer so that there is more room for the PATH box to be able to see my actual filename.  Because I set individual windows to fit the data they contain so they don't take up the entire screen, the part of the path I really need to see is sometimes cut off by the search box.  

    This is only ONE of the many problems with Windows 10, which gets worse with every drive-by "update." I'm getting really disgusted with Microsoft trying to control every little interface facet concerning how I use MY computer.  Microsoft is forcing their customers into editing the registry instead of providing the easy (and safer) ways to control their own interface for which code was already created (vis a vis Windows XP).

    Monday, November 12, 2018 9:09 AM
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    I have the same question, but for me, it is just a question of it using up space needed by the PATH box to display the actual filename when I reduce windows sizes to fit the data they contain.
    Monday, November 12, 2018 9:16 AM
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    My reason for wanting the search box gone, is a matter of it taking away space from the PATH box.  With a usable window size and a long path, you can't see the filename.
    Monday, November 12, 2018 9:21 AM
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    My reason for wanting the search box gone, is a matter of it taking away space from the PATH box.  With a usable window size and a long path, you can't see the filename.

    I never found a way of removing this search box (which was so easily removed in Windows 7), very annoying.
    Tuesday, November 20, 2018 10:11 AM
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    Why? To save space.

    Which is why I found this thread.

    Saturday, December 28, 2019 9:17 AM
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    Windows 10 1909, no way to remove the path length stealing search box.
    Monday, January 13, 2020 10:04 PM