Turn off Windows Search AutoComplete
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Settings\AutoComplete User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Settings\AutoComplete Description
This policy setting allows you to prevent Windows Search AutoComplete from providing results in the Internet Explorer Address bar. Windows Search AutoComplete suggests possible matches when a user is entering a web address in the browser Address bar. This feature provides more relevant results in the browser Address bar. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer does not use Windows Search AutoComplete for providing relevant results in the Address bar. The user cannot change this setting. If you disable this policy setting, Internet Explorer uses Windows Search AutoComplete to provide relevant results in the Address bar. The user cannot change this setting. If you do not configure this policy setting, the user can choose to turn the Use Windows Search setting on or off. Note: If you enable this policy setting, feeds do not appear in the Address bar. This does not affect subscribing to feeds and interacting with them through the Favorites Center.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch Value name: EnabledScopes
Enabled: EnabledScopes = 0
Disabled: EnabledScopes = 5
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. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Turn off Windows Search AutoComplete
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch]
"EnabledScopes"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Search AutoComplete
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnabledScopes' -Value 0 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Search AutoComplete
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch' -Name 'EnabledScopes' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Search AutoComplete
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnabledScopes' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Search AutoComplete
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
# 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 Search AutoComplete
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch' -Name 'EnabledScopes' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off Windows Search AutoComplete
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnabledScopes' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.