How to Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in Explorer address bar and Run dialog in Windows


As you type in any explorer address bar (ex: File Explorer) or Run dialog (Win+R), the AutoSuggest feature by default will automatically show you a list of suggested matches in the drop down menu based on your previous history. This allows you to quickly select a suggestion instead of having to type all of it.

If you find the drop down menu from AutoSuggest annoying, you are able to disable it.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the AutoSuggest drop down list feature in the Run dialog and any explorer address bar for your account in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.


Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Showing Apps in AutoSuggest Drop Down List
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in Internet Options
  • Option Three: Enable or Disable AutoSuggest using a REG file



EXAMPLE: AutoSuggest enabled and disable in Run dialog and File Explorer address bar
Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in File Explorer and Run in Windows-autosuggest_in_run_enabled.jpg Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in File Explorer and Run in Windows-autosuggest_in_run_disabled.png
Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in File Explorer and Run in Windows-autosuggest_in_file_explorer_enabled.jpg Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in File Explorer and Run in Windows-autosuggest_in_file_explorer_disabled.png





OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Showing Apps in AutoSuggest Drop Down List


1 For how, see: How to Turn On or Off App Launch Tracking in Windows 10

Turning off app launch tracking will also clear and disable the AutoSuggest history for apps in the drop down list of Run (Win+R) and File Explorer (Win+E) address bar. This does not affect file, folder, drive, network, and URL paths in AutoSuggest.







OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in Internet Options


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Internet Options icon.

2 Click/tap on the Content tab, and click/tap on the Settings button under AutoComplete. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in File Explorer and Run in Windows-autosuggest-1.png

3 Check (enable - default) or uncheck (disable) the Address bar box under Use AutoComplete for for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)

Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in File Explorer and Run in Windows-autosuggest-2.png Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in File Explorer and Run in Windows-autosuggest-3.png

4 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in File Explorer and Run in Windows-autosuggest-4.png

5 You can now close the Control Panel if you like.

6 If File Explorer or Run is currently open, then close and reopen it to apply.






OPTION THREE

Enable or Disable AutoSuggest using a REG file


The downloadable .reg files below will modify the string value in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoComplete

AutoSuggest string value

yes = Enable
no = Disable


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Enable AutoSuggest

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_AutoSuggest_in_Explorer_address_bar_and_Run.reg

Download


3 To Disable AutoSuggest

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

Disable_AutoSuggest_in_Explorer_address_bar_and_Run.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 are enabling AutoSuggest, then you will also need to turn on Let Windows track app launches to improve Start and search results to have a history for AutoSuggest.

8 If File Explorer or Run is currently open, then close and reopen it to apply.

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


That's it,
Shawn


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