Turn off Windows Spotlight on Settings
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1803
Path in the GPO console
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Cloud Content Description
If you enable this policy, Windows Spotlight suggestions will no longer be shown in Settings app. If you disable or do not configure this policy, Microsoft may suggest apps or features in Settings app to help users be productive on Windows or their linked phone.
Registry
HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent Value name: DisableWindowsSpotlightOnSettings
Enabled: DisableWindowsSpotlightOnSettings = 1
Disabled: DisableWindowsSpotlightOnSettings = 0
MDM / Intune (CSP)
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Experience/AllowWindowsSpotlightOnSettings Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
CSP values
-
0- Not allowed. -
1 (Default)- Allowed.
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Turn off Windows Spotlight on Settings
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1803
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent]
"DisableWindowsSpotlightOnSettings"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Spotlight on Settings
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1803
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DisableWindowsSpotlightOnSettings' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Experience/AllowWindowsSpotlightOnSettings
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Spotlight on Settings
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1803
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent' -Name 'DisableWindowsSpotlightOnSettings' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Spotlight on Settings
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1803
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DisableWindowsSpotlightOnSettings' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Spotlight on Settings
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1803
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Spotlight on Settings
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1803
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent' -Name 'DisableWindowsSpotlightOnSettings' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Spotlight on Settings
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1803
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DisableWindowsSpotlightOnSettings' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.