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

[ThrashZone]

Yep well that might also be coming soon no more local user accounts unless you use enterprise...

 

[Brds7t7]

Originally you could only use Cortana on an MS account, but Cortana is enabled on local accounts now too. Can't remember when they introduced it though. Might be with the Anniversary update, although I'm sure it was introduced before that.

 

[ThrashZone]

The only thing I've done with Cortana was block with group policy and if that and web search is not blockable I'm out.

I'm reinstalling 8.1 tomorrow on my acer don't need 10 on it with this stuff going on
Don't really need 8 on it either but that's the way the cookie will crumble

 

[unifex]

I don't have Cortana on my W10 machine. I am using a local account and I have the search-related services disabled. I doubt that the upcoming update will force me to create a Microsoft account. I doubt it will enable the search either. So, I'm thinking I'm quite free of that particular worry.

 

[Brds7t7]

That's part of my problem with 10, most of the new features that make the OS so wonderful (apparently), are the first things I disable in VM's!

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Like many things, over the years, I've had to develop my own "kill switch" for Cortana, which I didn't want to have left running on my PC. That was right after I killed WUDO. But that's another conversation.

Like so many things (services) in Windows, Cortana depends on a .dll file loading when you boot up your PC. I found the Cortana.DLL file and took control of it with "Grant Admin Full Control" and then I changed the name of the file's DLL suffix to something not recognized by Windows. DDD will do the trick nicely. On reboot after the name change, Cortana will not load and run. Problem solved.

There was a fix that I saw posted somewhere, that involved totally removing the entire Cortana program and all its associated files from the computer. The problem with that attack is that it disables some other Windows functions too. So now I just change the name of Cortana's DLL file and leave it at that. It's kind of like unplugging a lamp that has a broken ON-OFF switch.

When setting up Windows 10 for someone, I always explain Cortana to them and then I ask them if they want it. So far everyone has said "NO", so I kill it and move on with the SETUP which includes killing WUDO.

 

[ThrashZone]

Might have to post some screen shots Techno...
I'm stuck with one win-10.

 

[indianacarnie]

Might have to post some screen shots Techno...
I'm stuck with one win-10.

Yes! Screenshot or a tutorial even ...

 

[lehnerus2000]

I don't have Cortana on my W10 machine. I am using a local account and I have the search-related services disabled. I doubt that the upcoming update will force me to create a Microsoft account. I doubt it will enable the search either. So, I'm thinking I'm quite free of that particular worry.

Big updates have reset various options on my W10 Home (e.g. Privacy settings).

I haven't made any Registry changes on it, so I don't know if they are replaced.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yep darn anniversary build added a 450mb partition :mad2:
This is a sort of easy workaround for the lock screen bit
Lock Screen - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Cortana seems to still be in check or not any different than my already blocked in gpedit ?

 

[ThrashZone]

Ha link swap
No conditions on the other maybe that's why it didn't work although I rolled out of the new version pretty quick once I realized I could.
Total mess of the already flaky start menu was all that happened with the new build

 

[indianacarnie]

Ahhhhhhh ..... come on now....... I kind of like the new menu

Saves me a click 99% of the time. One click ain't much you say, but I'm old and only have so many clicks left in me

 

[ThrashZone]

Probably wouldn't be so bad if they at least dropped the silly alphabet listings they are so senseless but the lock screen is just flat out stupid on a desktop
What are we going to butt call someone

 

[HammerHead]

Install Win10

Install Win10 and your soul belongs to M$.

 

[Mellon Head]

You know, I can't even get Cortana to work and set up properly, much less turn it off.

Guess I won't worry about it.

 

[Brink]

Update:

You can turn off Cortana by signing out of Cortana now.

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

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Tough to sign out of something you never signed into

 

[Brink]

Hi,
Tough to sign out of something you never signed into

Cortana - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums