My Windows search turned into "Welcome to Cortana"

Right click on the taskbar, select options as required.

Hello Johanna,

In addition:

Hide or Show Cortana Button on Taskbar in Windows 10

Hide or Show Search Box or Search Icon on Taskbar in Windows 10

Johanna,
Now, if you want to close up the biggest security hole on your PC, get rid of Cortana completely!

It's not that difficult. I found a manual method, with several steps, and I wrote that process into a Batch File that I can and do run on any PC, running Win-10 or Win-11.

Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 10

How to Install and Uninstall Cortana in Windows 10

Good Luck,
TechnoMage

cmart6 said:

Techno:
This looks like a great idea. I hate Cortana and will try using GPedit.
The obvious question: since Cortana seems to be tied to Windows Search in some way, if I really do disable or uninstall Cortana, might I not lose Windows Search?

Only, if you rip it out by the roots. Parts of it are indeed tied to other Windows functions.
Why worry about Search? It's never worked very well anyway. There are a few Forum threads on that topic.

There is a file, "Cortana.Core.dll". Find it, here...
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_CW5n1h2txyewy\
Take ownership of it, then change it's name to "Cortana.ddd". That will disable it, and keep it from running, and Cortana will effectively be dead. And, no other Windows function will be affected.
Your PC will be much safer.

I would just send you the Batch File, if only that were possible, but alas, it is not.

Good Luck,
TM