Set what information is shared in Search
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 what information is shared with Bing in Search. If you enable this policy setting, you can specify one of four settings, which users won't be able to change: -User info and location: Share a user's search history, some Microsoft account info, and specific location to personalize their search and other Microsoft experiences. -User info only: Share a user's search history and some Microsoft account info to personalize their search and other Microsoft experiences. -Anonymous info: Share usage information but don't share search history, Microsoft account info or specific location. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, users can choose what information is shared in Search.
Registry
HKLM
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search Value name: ConnectedSearchPrivacy
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: Set what information is shared in Search
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]
"ConnectedSearchPrivacy"=dword:00000001
"ConnectedSearchPrivacy"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set what information is shared in Search
# 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 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -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: Set what information is shared in Search
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set what information is shared in Search
# 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 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set what information is shared in Search
# 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: Set what information is shared in Search
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set what information is shared in Search
# 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 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.