How to Enable or Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge in Windows 10

Microsoft Edge is a new web browser that is available across the Windows 10 device family. It is designed for Windows 10 to be faster, safer, and compatible with the modern Web.

By default, Microsoft Edge uses Bing as its default search engine, but you can add a search engine (ex: Google) and change the default search engine you would prefer to search with in Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge can use any search engine that supports the OpenSearch standard.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable changing the default search engine in Microsoft Edge for all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable changing the default search engine in Microsoft Edge.


 CONTENTS:

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge using a REG file


EXAMPLE: Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge enabled and disabled
Enable or Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge in Windows 10-change_search_engine_in_microsoft_edge_enabled-1.jpg Enable or Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge in Windows 10-change_search_engine_in_microsoft_edge_enabled-2.jpg
Enable or Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge in Windows 10-change_search_engine_in_microsoft_edge_disabled.jpg






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge in Local Group Policy Editor



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\Microsoft Edge

Enable or Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge in Windows 10-change_search_engine_in_microsoft_edge_gpedit-1.png

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

4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.


 5. To Enable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge

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 Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge

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

Enable or Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge in Windows 10-change_search_engine_in_microsoft_edge_gpedit-2.png

7. You can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

8. If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen it to apply.






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge using a REG file



The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.

Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Protected - It is a violation of Windows Policy to modify. See aka.ms/browserpolicy

AllowSearchEngineCustomization DWORD

delete = Enable
0 = Disable


1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you want.


 2. To Enable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge

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_change_search_engine_in_Microsoft_Edge.reg

Download


 3. To Disable Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge

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

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

8. If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen it to apply.


That's it,
Shawn


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