Customize Windows 1903 Version

Hi, recent activities:


No, this is no longer linked to Cortana. Feel free to read about that change to Cortana and search on the internet. In 1903, Cortana is voice activated only. This will change back again in 20H1. Confused?

As to Top Apps - search for Top Apps in this forum for threads asking the same question.
There is a way to get a floating search bar without those shown.



Note that 1903 is the last build with a fully functional file explorer search - 20H1 is almost complete- no more blue syntax highlighting. 1909 has been a problem after MS's change.

As far as the Search box on the Taskbar, right click on it, select Show Task View Button.

Just right click the windows flag ( taskbar icon ) and Search will be on the list.

It`s not something you`ll use a lot anyway.

Why ? (the way I described is easier)

I've removed it (Hidden) completely, it insists on searching the internet with Bing, If I search the net I'll use Google, I've spent the last few years training it what I mean when I use certain words or phrases and I've always got chrome running.

There was a an addon that allowed you to force windows to use Google for taskbar searches, but Microsoft changed things in a recent update to stop it working and have not checked if it's fixed , but I haven't missed the taskbar search at all, (I run my systems with the taskbar hidden anyway so it would have to be a conscious act to find the search bar/icon)

If I want to search my local system or network I'll use explorer, which is more controllable and used properly the indexing can make it more relevant

You can stop that search searching the web either by
- setting an appropriate firewall rule
- using a registry hack

These are discussed in comments under the relevant tutorial.

And as said above, the search bar on the taskbar can be hidden quite readily to save space via the option in the taskbar rt click menu.