Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10  

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    Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10

    Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10

    How to Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Apps & Features
    02 Nov 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10


    Cortana is your cloud-based personal assistant that works across your devices and other Microsoft services. Depending on the capabilities of your device and the version of Cortana you’re using, Cortana can provide a range of features, some of which are personalized. Cortana on Windows is available in certain regions and languages. If Cortana isn’t available for your Windows device, you can still search for files on your device in the search box on the taskbar. Cortana is also available on other platforms, such as Android and iOS, in select markets.

    Cortana works best when you sign in and let her use data from your device, other Microsoft services, and third-party services you choose to connect. To provide you with personalized experiences, Cortana learns from certain data about you, such as your searches, calendar, contacts, and location. You’re in control of how much data you share. If you choose not to sign into Cortana on Windows, you can still chat with Cortana and use her to help you search the web, documents stored in Microsoft services like OneDrive, and your Windows device. See the section about Windows Search in the Privacy Statement for more information. If you don’t sign in, or you choose to sign out, your experiences will be more limited and they won’t be personalized with your Cortana data. On iOS and Android devices, Cortana only works when you sign in.

    For more information about Cortana, see:

    This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Cortana for all users in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Cortana.



    Contents

    • Option One: To Enable or Disable Cortana using Group Policy
    • Option Two: To Enable or Disable Cortana using a REG file



    EXAMPLE: Cortana disabled
    Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10-cortana_disabled.png






    OPTION ONE

    To Enable or Disable Cortana using Group Policy


    The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

    All editions can use Option Two below.


    1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

    2 In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

    Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Search

    Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10-cortana_gpedit-1.png

    3 In the right pane of Search in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow Cortana policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

    4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


    5 To Enable Cortana

    A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Not Configured is the default setting.


    6 To Disable Cortana

    A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10-cortana_gpedit-2.png

    7 When finished, close the Local Group Policy Editor.

    8 Either restart explorer, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.






    OPTION TWO

    To Enable or Disable Cortana using a REG file


    The downloadable .reg files below will add and change the DWORD value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

    AllowCortana DWORD

    0 = Disable
    1 or delete = Enable


    1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


    2 To Enable Cortana

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Enable_Cortana.reg

    Download


    3 To Disable Cortana

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Disable_Cortana.reg

    Download


    4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    7 Either restart explorer, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.

    8 If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 75
    21H1 (19043.1415)
       #1

    What does it mean if I don't already have a Windows Search key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows?
    Will creating it do the trick, or could this setting be hiding elsewhere?

    Also, what is the difference between this tutorial and Cortana - Turn On or Off?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,661
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Michael, :)

    This tutorial uses a group policy to disable Cortana. If you don't have the Search key, then it just means that you do not have the policy added and enabled. The options to disable Cortana in the tutorial adds the policy to the registry for you.

    Disabling Cortana will disable the ability of all users to be able to turn on or off Cortana in their account.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 75
    21H1 (19043.1415)
       #3

    Ah, I see. I went for this option because it could be achieved through the registry. I don't suppose you know of a way to only turn it off via the registry (rather than disable it entirely)? I suppose I should be asking this in the other thread...
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,661
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I'm not sure for a .reg file option yet for just turning off Cortana.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4...dows-10-a.html

    However, disabling Cortana would also turn off Cortana, but for all users.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 8
    Windows 10
       #5

    I get a notice that Cortana is disabled by company policy. I am running win10 64 home. I opend regedit and when to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search. My reg does not have AllowCortana DWORD.
    Since this is home edition there is no Group policy either. Is there another way?

      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,661
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello tropicallime, :)

    Check to see if you may have the DWORD in the registry key below instead.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 8
    Windows 10
       #7

    Brink,
    Thanks for help. I have two PC one with Pro the other is home edition. The Pro PC works fine. I could not find
    the DWORD at this location on either PC.
    -> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

      My Computer


  8. Posts : 164
    Pro x64 Desktop v1607 14393.51, Home x64 Laptop v1607 14393.51
       #8

    Brink said:
    Hello Michael, :)

    This tutorial uses a group policy to disable Cortana. If you don't have the Search key, then it just means that you do not have the policy added and enabled. The options to disable Cortana in the tutorial adds the policy to the registry for you.

    Disabling Cortana will disable the ability of all users to be able to turn on or off Cortana in their account.
    Hi Brink,

    I am running Win 10x64 Pro. I used your reg file to disable Cortana but I still see it resident as a process with reserved memory;

    Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10-cortana1.jpg

    I also see it listed here and it showed a minimum amount of usage after I executed your reg file, deleted usage history, and rebooted:

    Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10-cortana2.jpg

    Are those expected results after disabling Cortana via your reg file?

    Thanks,

    aardvark
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,661
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hello aardvark, :)

    Yep, that's normal. That Cortana process is actually for Search instead of Cortana the assistant.
      My Computers


 

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