You can't turn off Cortana in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update

[Borg 386]

Microsoft made an interesting decision with Windows 10’s Anniversary Update, which is now in its final stages of development before it rolls out on August 2.


Cortana, the personal digital assistant that replaced Windows 10’s search function and taps into Bing’s servers to answer your queries with contextual awareness, no longer has an off switch.

...but you can lessen her awareness.

You can't turn off Cortana in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update | PCWorld

 

[ThrashZone]

Not sure I ever saw a turn off switch
I had to block usage in group policy and web search....

Sort of funny setting there
Do not respond when saying hey cortana wtf

 

[Callender]

Related reading material: Cortana - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

[Microfix]

I have the same problem with SWMBO!

 

[fireberd]

I have the latest preview version and for several versions I haven't been able to turn off Cortana (or at least find where to do it). I have a desktop and no mic (for the PC audio) so I don't need Cortana.

 

[ThrashZone]

If they remove the group policy options I will not be happy
Just the changes to the start menu will not make me very happy it sounds like the options to have Downloads/ Picture.... will be removed all for room for the silly all apps listings

 

[Brink]

You may still be able to effectively turn off Cortana using OPTION THREE below.

Cortana - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

[ThrashZone]

I believe Micro... is just trying to wear us down with all of this limited settings stuff
I'd restrict usage of 10 before assimilating

Time will tell good thing I have the ultimate choice of using win-10 or not
At this point I already barely use 10 take away what few things I did already adjust to a half way acceptable level and it would be too easy to never use it.

I'm not going through classic shell/ start10..... stuff.

 

[lehnerus2000]

I believe Micro... is just trying to wear us down with all of this limited settings stuff

Agreed.

This is just like the W8 Start Screen debacle.
Soon MS will trot out someone and they'll claim that most users are too stupid to be able to type a search query into a text box.

It seems like a large number settings have been designed using malware design techniques.

Just like the way the Privacy Settings all reset to "share everything with everyone" after a unblockable update.
The irony is that a lot of XP's issues were related to the default "share everything with everyone" security settings.

I've also noticed that during install/reset W10 only shows you ~6 Privacy switches out of ~40.
This is obviously designed to trick users into thinking that they have blocked everything.

The non-existent "Create Local Account" button is another example.

 

[indianacarnie]

Well............ as a satisfied 10 user this kinda.......... bothers me. I have never used Cortana for search and do not even like the "Idea" of Cortana. I do not want to talk to a machine! Talking is for people period imho, and I have a hard enough time doing that with any expertise. Hell, everyone knows what I do for a living (just look at my username) and I don't now or ever will use those navigation thingee's. (Garmin etc. much less one on a smartphone which I don't own either btw) The spoken word is for communicating with other humans. Coding is the way to talk to a machine.

 

[Layback Bear]

To me it's not a tin foil hat issue; it's fact as far as I'm concerned.

Between Bing, Cortana and Key logging Microsoft's W-10 gathers more information about what you type, see and or talk about than most people even know. Then stores that information in a cloud somewhere in the world.

Now if one doesn't care that this is being done to them their isn't a problem.
I have a problem with such things and try to avoid these methods as much as I can.

When government agencies around the world do such things the screaming and hollering has the internet very busy with people complaining. When someone complains about Microsoft doing such things they must be wearing a tin foil hat.
Go figure.

Most people that have gotten W-10 have no idea all this information gathering is being done by W-10.

Jack

 

[xips]

More bonuses for w10 pro users: no longer able to disable microsoft consumer experience or the ability to disable all apps from the windows store and more!!! The w10 user is the product. One fine example of w10 at work.

Microsoft removes policies from Windows 10 Pro

 

[ThrashZone]

Well that sucks.
This just gets worse and worse

 

[lehnerus2000]

When government agencies around the world do such things the screaming and hollering has the internet very busy with people complaining. When someone complains about Microsoft doing such things they must be wearing a tin foil hat.
Go figure.

This is one of the things that confuses me about people in the US.

If the Government does something dodgy, it's Armageddon.
If a Corporation does exactly the same thing, it's a "Free Market" triumph.

More bonuses for w10 pro users: no longer able to disable microsoft consumer experience or the ability to disable all apps from the windows store and more!!! The w10 user is the product. One fine example of w10 at work.

Microsoft removes policies from Windows 10 Pro

Perhaps the EU (who are desperate for cash, just like every other government) will fine MS into oblivion and/or force MS to release a proper OS.

 

[ThrashZone]

Pretty wild
I don't see logging into 10 anytime soon until the smoke clears on all of the changes and have been confirmed.
Which is actually pretty easy to not do
Might have to reevaluate what win-10 is installed on see it's going into the freezer until further notice
Possibly it's good just as a system image on a hard drive
500gb ssd I believe I might find other uses for it.

 

[Brds7t7]

More bonuses for w10 pro users: no longer able to disable microsoft consumer experience or the ability to disable all apps from the windows store and more!!! The w10 user is the product. One fine example of w10 at work.

Microsoft removes policies from Windows 10 Pro

Can't say I'm surprised really, what did people expect from a "free" upgrade? I had a feeling they were going to start making those ads compulsory eventually. My decision to not upgrade any of my 7 licences is looking better by the minute!
I don't envy those who have bought full retail versions and not be able to turn off those ads. I'd be putting it straight on eBay!
Really hope they don't start taking away too much control from the users, that won't go down well in future!

 

[ThrashZone]

Yep switching to enterprise is a joke

 

[Brds7t7]

Aren't they bringing in some sort of subscription model for Enterprise users anyway? Can't remember where I read it but I'm sure I saw it mentioned somewhere. So, that's definitely not something I'd want to switch to.

Edit: found it, there's a number of different articles about it: Yes, Windows 10 subscriptions are coming, at least for enterprise | PCWorld

 

[ThrashZone]

Don't miss out on win-10 free upgrade banners are gone

 

[groze]

Microsoft made an interesting decision with Windows 10’s Anniversary Update, which is now in its final stages of development before it rolls out on August 2.


Cortana, the personal digital assistant that replaced Windows 10’s search function and taps into Bing’s servers to answer your queries with contextual awareness, no longer has an off switch.

...but you can lessen her awareness.

You can't turn off Cortana in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update | PCWorld

Hows that work if you just have a local account? I thought you had to have a Microsoft account before you could use Cortana?