Removing Cortana permanently?

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  1. Posts : 308
    Windows 10
       #1

    Removing Cortana permanently?


    Is it true that there is no way to permanently remove Cortana in W10 home so it does not run in the background or report back to MS?

    I've searched the web, taken possession of the searchui file and disabled it, but task manager shows it restarting and running in the background.

    Is it safe to rename the exe file? Other solution?

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,665
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello., :)

    If you like, you could use an option in the tutorial below to disable Cortana. This will only enable or disable Cortana the personal assistant, and not the Cortana process used by Search (SearchUI.exe).

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


  3. Posts : 308
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you for replying. I will try it.

    But will it stop Cortana from continuing to gather information and reporting back to MS? That's the part I really want to stop.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,665
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #4
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 308
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Great! Thank you.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,665
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #6

    You're most welcome. :)
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 308
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Brink said:
    Hello., :)

    If you like, you could use an option in the tutorial below to disable Cortana. This will only enable or disable Cortana the personal assistant, and not the Cortana process used by Search (SearchUI.exe).

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...dows-10-a.html
    Thank you.
    I downloaded the disable Cortana reg file and ran it. The popup said it had added it to the registry.

    But, after rebooting, Taskmanager showed Cortana was still running and when I checked the registry, there was nothing new added (see attached mage).

    I would be glad to add it manually if necessary, but because this is Windows 10 Home, there is no
    "\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" under Policies. So I'm not sure what else needs to be added.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Removing Cortana permanently?-cortana.gif  
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 308
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Furthermore, when I looked at the disable Cortana reg file I downloaded, I see it contains
    ........................................
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    ; Created by: Shawn Brink
    ; Windows 10 Forums
    ; Tutorial: Cortana - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]
    "AllowCortana"=dword:00000000
    ...............................................
    which does not seem correct!!!
    Can you please explain?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,665
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #9

    When you set the "AllowCortana" DWORD to zero, it disables it.

    This will only enable or disable Cortana the personal assistant, and not the Cortana process used by Search (SearchUI.exe). That's what you are seeing in Task Manager.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 308
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Brink said:
    When you set the "AllowCortana" DWORD to zero, it disables it.

    This will only enable or disable Cortana the personal assistant, and not the Cortana process used by Search (SearchUI.exe). That's what you are seeing in Task Manager.
    But the entry was not added to the registry. I searched for it in the registry and it is not there under Policies
      My Computer


 

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