This is How to permanently Disable Cortana

melsner said:

I found this thread AFTER I managed to figure out how to take ownership, end, and delete the cortana folder. Anyone have the files they can post/send so I can get Cortana back? I really just want to be able to search. Had I known the search feature would be removed too, I wouldn't have deleted it

Me too, can please someone post this via dropbox?

fmustang76 said:

To turn Cortana off in the Start Menu:
Bring up the Start menu and start typing. Click on the "hamburger" icon in the left sidebar and choose "Settings". From there, you can turn off Cortana.


Permanately Disable Cortana Without using safe mode:
Install Unlocker 1.92
Navigate to the following folder: "C:/Windows/SystemApps/Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy"
Right click "SearchUI.exe" and select "Unlocker"
Under the action menu, select "Rename"
Give it a new name such as "Disabled.SearchUI.exe"
Click OK.

To clear Cortana from the PC memory, either reboot or open task manager and kill Cortana.

FMustang76, great solution!
The only thing now is that I receive two faults in the event viewer:

1. Event-id 5973:
Activation app Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy!CortanaUI failed, the system can't find the file. Look in log Microsoft-Windows-TWinUI/Operational.

2. Event-10001:
Can't start DCOM Server CortanaUI, not available.
Fault "2" as a result of command "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchUI.exe" -ServerName:CortanaUI.AppXa50dqqa5gqv4a428c9y1jjw7m3btvepj.mca.

Anyone?
Thanks!

This absolutely does not work. Just go to processes in File Manager and you will see Cortana using both CPU and memory!

Brink said:

If you like, you could also use the method in the tutorial below to easily disable Cortana. :)

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...dows-10-a.html

If you're bent on disabling the SearchUI, you'll need to rename the Cortana folder in C:/Windows/SystemApps, however, I DO NOT encourage users to do that because it disables search altogether and may begin to break other stuff!

On the other hand, having done so as an experiment, the old search will still work.

Brink, thanks for clarifying that.

Edwin, I actually followed the tute that shows how to do that and it does work but like others I returned to the original name in order to have the search function.

Thank you both for your replies.

I already took ownership and deleted the folder. Now I realize that it removed the search function. How can I restore the search function/get the files back? (Maybe someone upload them to dropbox?) Help would REALLY be appreciated