‘Remove Search Adverts KB ID 0001897

Problem

Why this has to be a ‘thing‘ in a business version of Windows I’m not really sure, but if you want to remove these adverts from the Windows Search function.

They are called ‘Search Highlights‘ or ‘Dynamic Search Box‘.

Solution: Remove Search Adverts

Option 1 Remove Search Adverts with Domain Group Policy

In a domain envronment we can simply crete a GPO and link it to the the computers you want to ‘remove’ this ‘feature’ from. On a domain controller > Administrative Tools > Group Policy Managment Console > Selct a policy that’s linked to the computers OU that the affected machines are in, or create a new policy and edit it.

Navigate to.

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Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search > Allow search highlights

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Wait there is no Allow Search Highlights option? If so click here

Then either wait a couple of hours for the policies to enforce, or manually force a policy renewal.

Option 2 Remove Search Adverts with Local Group Policy

If your PC is in a workgroup or simply a stand alone PC you can acheive the same by using Local Policies. (Note: Not avalable with Home versions of Windows). In the start menu search for and execute gpmc.msc

Navigate to.

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Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search > Allow search highlights

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Select Disabled > Apply  > OK > Close the policy editor and reboot or manually force a policy renewal.

Option 3 Remove Search Adverts with Local Settings

Another option, is to go to settings.

Privacy and Security > Search Permissions.

Scroll all the way to the bottom > More Settings > Show Search Highlights > Off > Then reboot the PC.

Option 4 Remove Search Adverts within The Registry

If you have a home edition of Windows then sometimes it’s easier to simply set this in the registry. Locate and execute regedit.

Navigate to.

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Computer > HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > SearchSettings > IsDynamicSearchBoxEnabled

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Set to 0 (Zero) for Disabled.

Allow Search Highlights Option Missing From GPO

If you attempt to disable this but find the option missing like so.

You need to update your policy definitions for Windows 11 the updates are here and here. When you execute the updates, it will put the policy definisions in an odd place make sure you take a note of where the definisions are getting put.

Now you simply need to copy the ADMX and ADML files to the correct location on one of your domain contollers, to understand how to do that read the following article.

Setup up a Central ‘PolicyDefinitions’ Store (for ADMX files)

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

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