Use cortana whilst block web search and web results - Group Policy

Wobitancrawfodi · 13 Aug 2020

I have Cortana installed on one PC because the use says the sky will fall and the world will end of they can't talk to their computer. Really.

When I enable "Don't search the web or display web results in search" group policy (Computer Configuration, Administrative Tools, Windows Components, Search) it sort of disables Cortana - All the services and processes are still running, but WIndows seems to switch to "search" mode and Cortana will no longer respond to voice.

How do I block web searches whilst still being able to use Cortana?

dalchina · 13 Aug 2020

Hi, I'm guessing you mean you only want to stop Cortana launching a web search rather than all web searches- or do you mean you wish to disable all web searches by any means?

Or do you mean you wish not to have a web search launched from the toolbar search box/ win key + C?

In order for your voice to be analysed and interpreted Cortana needs access to the internet.

You are using 1809, an old build, so you should still be able to type queries to Cortana.

(MS has made two changes in how and what Cortana is since 1809, and this is not a straighforward area).

Are you also aware of Speech Recognition - which has been in Windows for many years?
And of Dictation - Win key + H?

Ghot · 13 Aug 2020

Wobitancrawfodi said:

I have Cortana installed on one PC because the use says the sky will fall and the world will end of they can't talk to their computer. Really.

When I enable "Don't search the web or display web results in search" group policy (Computer Configuration, Administrative Tools, Windows Components, Search) it sort of disables Cortana - All the services and processes are still running, but WIndows seems to switch to "search" mode and Cortana will no longer respond to voice.

How do I block web searches whilst still being able to use Cortana?

At present, there is no way to disable web search in the Taskbar Search box, without disabling Cortana.

How to Disable Bing in the Windows 10 Start Menu

Brink · 13 Aug 2020

Hello,

In addition: Turn On or Off Search online and include web results in Windows 10

Wobitancrawfodi · 13 Aug 2020

I'm trying to make it so that when he says open xyz word doc it doesn't come back with any web results, only local PC results. I want Cortana to ONLY search his local PC.

I understand that Cortana wants to connect to Bing to analyze everything he says (not that I'm happy about it), but the results should be restricted to searches on his PC. For example, "Run Fortnite" Should not respond with dozens of Bing results about how to download and install fortnite from the web.

@Brink Thanks for the link, but it refers to 2004 only. We will continue to use 1809 LTSC until its no longer supported, or until MS releases a stable Windows 10 release with useful features (I think 1809 will expire before that happens). I don't have any 2004 here so I can't test - but if you disable Web Results on 2004 as per the tutorial, does it disable Cortana? Like if you go to settings Cortana has been replaced with Search and the microphone is gone from the search box, and you can no longer change Cortana settings like "Let Cortana respond to Hey, Cortana".

I know we can type queries, and he typically does. I've never actually seen him speak to Cortana (I'd remember because it would send cold shivers down my spine). So I don't know if he's just being stubborn or whether he really wants to talk to a computer (my age is showing). But he insists that the world will end if he can't speak to Cortana. I just want the search he performs not to return irrelevant, useless annoying web results.

@Ghot. I feared as much