Windows Search - Turn On or Off

How to Turn Search On or Off in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to turn Windows Search on or off to add or remove the search box in the Start Menu and Windows Explorer in Windows 7.

Windows Search is turned on by default in Windows 7. You should only turn off Windows Search if you don’t use it.

   Note

Turning off Windows Search removes it from Windows 7, but doesn't reduce the amount of hard disk space used by Windows 7. Windows Search will remain stored on your hard disk, so you can turn it back on if you want to.

   Warning

If you turn off Windows Search:


See also: What happens if I turn off Windows Search?

• All the search boxes in Windows 7 will disappear, including the search boxes in Windows Explorer, Start menu, Control Panel, and Libraries.
• Programs that rely on Windows Search might not function properly.
• Internet Explorer will no longer have enhanced search capabilities.
• Tablet PC handwriting recognition won't work.
• Windows Media Center won't have enhanced search capability.
• You'll no longer be able to arrange your library views by metadata, and your column headers will only sort items, not stack or group them.
• All Windows Search features will be removed, including Indexing Options in the Control Panel, and the Search tab in Folder Options.
• Windows will no longer recognize these search-based file types: search-ms, searchconnector-ms, and osdx.
• Pressing Windows Key+F to open a search window will give you this error.

EXAMPLE: Folder Options with Search Turned On or Off
EXAMPLE: Windows Explorer with Search Turned On or Off



EXAMPLE: Start Menu with Search Turned On or Off

Here's How: 1. Open Windows Features.
2. To Turn On Windows Search A) Check the Windows Search box, and click on OK. (See screenshot above)

B) Go to step 4.
3. To Turn Off Windows Search A) Uncheck the Windows Search box. (See screenshot below step 1)

B) Click on Yes. (See screenshot below)
C) Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 1)
4. Click on Restart Now. (See screenshot below)
WARNING: This will restart the computer immediately. Be sure to save and close anything you have open or running first.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Enable or Disable the Search Index in Vista and Windows 7
• Windows 7 Search Federation Providers
• How to Pin Search Connectors to Search and See More Results in Start Menu
• How to Add or Remove "See more results" Link in Start Menu Search Box
• How to Add Search Internet Link to the Windows 7 Start Menu Search Box
• How to Pin Libraries to Search and See More Results in Start Menu
• How to Enable or Disable Search from Internet Explorer 8 Address Bar
• How to Turn Windows 7 Features On or Off
• How to Search in Windows 7
• How to Change or Restore the Default Windows 7 Search Options
• How to Create a Search Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Save a Search in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Explorer Recent Search Box Suggestions
• How to Change the Size of the Windows 7 Explorer Address and Search Bar
• How to Edit or Reset Windows 7 Explorer Recent Search Box Suggestions
• How to Configure and Fully Utilize Windows 7 Search
• How to Add or Remove the Search Button in the Windows 7 Start Menu
• How to Add "Search" to "My Computer" Context Menu in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Use Windows Search Filters and Operators to get better Search Results in Windows 7

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Glenn. You might alsos take a look at the free program Start Menu 7 to see if that may be more usable for what you are wanting as well. It's pretty customizable.

 

[Glenn a windows]

Thanks again, Brink. I had found that one, but since FreeLaunchBar solves a significant % of my issues, I decided that yet one more TSR tweak program wasn't necessary to learn, install, and configure. But if I could get the real start menu back... I may eventually choose to turn off Windows search completely, because I don't use it much, and I do use Agent Ransack.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Glenn.

 

[voiv]

Hi there.

I'm thinking in applying this tip you are discussing here. However, I'd like to know if the search box will stay there because my only purpose will be to launch some executables like cmd.exe and such. If it wont then how can those commands be run?

 

[draftsman]

I found this discussion about the start menu very informative. I've neve found a place more informative as this forum.

 

[Brink]

Hi there.

I'm thinking in applying this tip you are discussing here. However, I'd like to know if the search box will stay there because my only purpose will be to launch some executables like cmd.exe and such. If it wont then how can those commands be run?

Hello Voiv,

If you turn off search using the method in the tutorial, it will remove the search box.

Without the search box, you could use a shortcut to run them instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Layback Bear]

I still haven't understood why anybody would turn off search. That being said; does turning off search also turn off indexing?

 

[Brink]

I still haven't understood why anybody would turn off search. That being said; does turning off search also turn off indexing?

Yep, it sure does. It removes the Indexing Options icon from the Control Panel when Search is turned off.

 

[Layback Bear]

Thanks Mr. Brink.
Another question. I have one computer with Intel 510 120 GB SSD. Would it be wise to turn off Windows 7 search/indexing and use a program that only searches /indexes when asked to? Is Windows 7 indexing used by other things besides Search?
I have found Search Everything very useful on my other computers.

 

[Brink]

I don't think you would have any problems, but you could give it a try and see if you do. If you do, you could always just turn "Windows Search" back on with no harm no foul.

 

[Layback Bear]

I don't think you would have any problems, but you could give it a try and see if you do. If you do, you could always just turn "Windows Search" back on with no harm no foul.

When I get it back form the computer shop I will try it. The motherboard had two memory slots dead out of the box. The computer in my specs. I'm using my old standby now.

 

[kjerstiiann]

I went into Control Panel>Programs and Features>Turn Windows features on or off and the Windows Search box is checked. (Meaning turned on) I click "OK" and it says, "An error occurred. Not all of the features were successfully changed." I repeat this over and over and it says the same thing. I also tried the pressing Windows+"R" option, and Windows Search cannot be found. HEEEEELLLLLLLPPPP

 

[Brink]

Hello Kjerstiiann, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Do you have the Search tab in Folder Options like in the example screenshot at the top of the tutorial?

If you press Windows + F, does it open a search window?

 

[kjerstiiann]

No I do not have the search tab. When I press Windows+F is says, "Class not registered." But When I push Windows+R a search bar opens.

 

[Brink]

Kjerstiiann,

You might see if unchecking "Windows Search" and clicking OK in Windows Features to turn it off, then afterwards turn it back on may toggle it to work again.

If that didn't work and you have a restore point available dated before this happened, then it may be easier to do a system restore with it to hopefully fix this for you.

If not, then you could see if running a sfc /scannow command may help.

 

[kjerstiiann]

Well, my computer recently crashed. I just got it back from the repair shop. I have already recovered all of my old files including music and photos along with personal changes. If I do the System Restore will I lose all of the data I just restored?

 

[Brink]

You shouldn't, but I would recommend to back them up somewhere to be on the safe side.

 

[kjerstiiann]

Now if I do request System Restart am I guaranteed that the Windows Search will reappear? Or is this just another option to try and recover it.

 

[Brink]

There's no guarantee that doing a system restore will fix it, but if you select a restore point dated before you had these search issues, then there's a good chance that it would.

 

[zapp22]

Brink, similar but not identical to a previous post: is there a way to simply not have Win Search begin running at the first keystroke?

and another: because I am a 'tree' sort of thinker/organizer, I usually know pretty closely where I will find some thing I am looking for, and I rather miss the Windows xp type of advanced search where I could do date, date range, size of file, etc. versus having to remember exactly how to form a proper search string with filter indicators is a waste of brainpower... is there something about Windows Search I'm missing that would make such precision easy?