Don't search the web or display web results in Search over metered connections
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 29, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Search Description
This policy setting allows you to control whether or not Search can perform queries on the web over metered connections, and if the web results are displayed in Search. If you enable this policy setting, queries won't be performed on the web over metered connections and web results won't be displayed when a user performs a query in Search. If you disable this policy setting, queries will be performed on the web over metered connections and web results will be displayed when a user performs a query in Search. If you don't configure this policy setting, a user can choose whether or not Search can perform queries on the web over metered connections, and if the web results are displayed in Search. Note: If you enable the "Don't search the web or display web results in Search" policy setting, queries won't be performed on the web over metered connections and web results won't be displayed when a user performs a query in Search.
Registry
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search Value name: ConnectedSearchUseWebOverMeteredConnections
Enabled: ConnectedSearchUseWebOverMeteredConnections = 0
Disabled: ConnectedSearchUseWebOverMeteredConnections = 1
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: Don't search the web or display web results in Search over metered connections
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]
"ConnectedSearchUseWebOverMeteredConnections"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Don't search the web or display web results in Search over metered connections
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchUseWebOverMeteredConnections' -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: Don't search the web or display web results in Search over metered connections
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchUseWebOverMeteredConnections' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Don't search the web or display web results in Search over metered connections
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchUseWebOverMeteredConnections' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Don't search the web or display web results in Search over metered connections
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 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: Don't search the web or display web results in Search over metered connections
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchUseWebOverMeteredConnections' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Don't search the web or display web results in Search over metered connections
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchUseWebOverMeteredConnections' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.