8.1. Permissions & History

Disable SafeSearch

Prevent filtering of results by Windows Search. Note the GPO only applies to Windows versions before 10.

1 moderate, 2 strict.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersionSearchSettings

SafeSearchMode

DWORD

0

Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference

8.1.1. Cloud content search

Disable Cloud content search

Disable both Microsoft account and Work or School account searching.

GPO

Enabling the policy and setting Disable Cloud Search has the same affect.

Computer Configuration › Administrative Templates › Windows Components › Search › Allow Cloud Search

☑

DISABLED

Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference

Registry

MSA handles Microsoft accounts, AAD handles Azure Active Directory accounts (work or school accounts).

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersionSearchSettings

IsMSACloudSearchEnabled

DWORD

0

IsAADCloudSearchEnabled

DWORD

0

Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference

8.1.2. History

Disable Search history on this device

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersionSearchSettings

IsDeviceSearchHistoryEnabled

DWORD

0

Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference