Enable the Search bar (deprecated)
Verified with Microsoft Edge 152.0.4191.53 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88, Windows 7 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge Description
DEPRECATED: This policy is deprecated. It is currently supported but will become obsolete in a future release. Enables the search bar. When enabled, users can use the search bar to search the web from their desktop or from an application. The search bar provides a search box that shows web suggestions and opens all web searches in Microsoft Edge. The search box provides search (powered by Bing) and URL suggestions. The search bar can be launched from the "More tools" menu or jump list in Microsoft Edge. If you enable or don't configure this policy, the following results are seen: The search bar is automatically enabled for all profiles. The option to enable the search bar at startup is toggled on if the 'WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup' (Allow the Search bar at Windows startup) policy is enabled. If the 'WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup' is disabled or not configured, the option to enable the search bar at startup is toggled off. Users will see the menu item to launch the search bar from the Microsoft Edge "More tools" menu. Users can launch the search bar from "More tools". Users will see the menu item to launch the search bar from the Microsoft Edge jump list menu. Users can launch the search bar from the Microsoft Edge jump list menu. The search bar can be turned off by the "Quit" option in the System tray or by closing the search bar from the three-dot menu. The search bar is restarted on system reboot if auto-start is enabled. If you disable this policy, the following results are seen: The search bar is disabled for all profiles. The option to launch the search bar from Microsoft Edge "More tools" menu is disabled. The option to launch the search bar from Microsoft Edge jump list menu is disabled. This policy is deprecated due to the deprecation of the Web widget's vertical layout. This policy will be made obsolete in 119 release.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge Value name: WebWidgetAllowed
Enabled: WebWidgetAllowed = 1
Disabled: WebWidgetAllowed = 0
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: Enable the Search bar (deprecated)
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88, Windows 7 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"WebWidgetAllowed"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable the Search bar (deprecated)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'WebWidgetAllowed' -Value 1 -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: Enable the Search bar (deprecated)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88, Windows 7 or later
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'WebWidgetAllowed' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable the Search bar (deprecated)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'WebWidgetAllowed' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable the Search bar (deprecated)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88, Windows 7 or later
# 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: Enable the Search bar (deprecated)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88, Windows 7 or later
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'WebWidgetAllowed' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable the Search bar (deprecated)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'WebWidgetAllowed' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.