Change Search Box Text in Windows 10  

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    Change Search Box Text in Windows 10

    Change Search Box Text in Windows 10

    How to Change Search Box Text in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Customization
    28 Feb 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change Search Box Text in Windows 10


    Searching from your taskbar makes it easier for you to search the web and Windows.

    Starting with Windows 10 build 14946, you can change or remove the default Type here to search search box text.

    This tutorial will how you how to change the default 'Type here to search' search box text for your account in Windows 10.


    Contents




    EXAMPLE: Search box text
    Change Search Box Text in Windows 10-search_box_text.jpg





    OPTION ONE

    Change Search Box Text


    1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

    2 Navigate to the registry key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search\Flighting\1\SearchBoxText

    Change Search Box Text in Windows 10-search_box_text_regedit-1.png

    3 In the right pane of the SearchBoxText key, double click/tap on the Value string value to modify it. (see screenshot above)

    4 Enter the text you want to show in the search box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Change Search Box Text in Windows 10-search_box_text_regedit-2.png

    5 Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the registry key below.

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search\Flighting\0\SearchBoxText

    6 Restart the explorer process to apply.

    7 When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like. (see screenshot below)






    OPTION TWO

    Restore Default "Type here to search" Search Box Text


    1 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below.

    Restore_default_search_box_text.bat

    Download

    2 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

    3 Unblock the .bat file.

    4 Run the .bat file.

    5 You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly open and close as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.

    6 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #1

    Tutorial updated to work again.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 3
    Windows 10
       #2

    Hey, I've tried this hack, and it worked, which is cool. But after a little while (within a day) Windows changes it back, which is not so cool. I checked both registry keys and they both have reverted to the default without even asking me. Any way to tell Windows 10 to mind its own business?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #3

    ms009986 said:
    Hey, I've tried this hack, and it worked, which is cool. But after a little while (within a day) Windows changes it back, which is not so cool. I checked both registry keys and they both have reverted to the default without even asking me. Any way to tell Windows 10 to mind its own business?

    Hello, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    Did this happen after a Windows Update by chance?

    If so, it's not unusual for a Windows Update to reset some things like this back to default.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 3
    Windows 10
       #4

    Why thanks! I don't think so...if it updated it didn't tell me. I tried it about three times over the past three days and one or the other or both reverted back to the default each time. I'll do a Windows update and then try it again, so there will be nothing to update.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1
    Windows XP Professional SP3, Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #5

    I had the same problem. I used XP until now (so it's been 13 years ), but due to work and study's requirements I obtained Windows 10 Home edition 20H2 version (since my new laptop supports only Home, I sadly came to know about this just after buying it). SO, since Windows 10 is crap as I knew already, but I didn't know it's so much a pain in the ass system. I really regret leaving Windows XP for this makeuped trash, but nvm...

    I tried changing the text of the Cortana Search box, but it would always revert to default after a few minutes or after a couple of hours even without restarting the system. When I check the registry - the value is always back to default.
    SO - I tried another way - giving PERMISSION only to me for this key.
    I made myself the owner of the SearchBox key in both 0 and 1 key folder, and I removed permissions for everyone besides me to have FULL CONTROL over it.
    After that - the changed key for Search box text is just staying there good and well.^^ I hope I resolved it, so I will track the situation, but it's already 1 day without changes. I restarted the laptop a couple of times and installed new programs, and the text hasn't changed still to default so I guess the solution is just manipulation with Permissions for the wished key.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 519
    Win7 Pro X64, Win10 Pro x640
       #6

    @SamuraiSx I had the same issue with the submit button disappearing. Can you briefly list what you did to exclude all system permissions other than the user's please?


    @Brink
    Please see the above post from SamuraiSx. I had the same issue with the search box submit button disappearing.
    Can you please verify?

    Thanks!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hello @SamuraiSx and @bamajon1974,

    Currently, the search box text change is holding for me in build 21322, even after restarting the computer.

    The change must be made in both registry locations below, or it will revert back to default.

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search\Flighting\0\SearchBoxText

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search\Flighting\1\SearchBoxText

    It's also not uncommon for settings like these to sometimes get set back to default after a Windows Update though.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    bamajon1974 said:
    @SamuraiSx I had the same issue with the submit button disappearing. Can you briefly list what you did to exclude all system permissions other than the user's please?
    Step 3 in option 4 below can show you how to change the owner of a registry key.

    Change Owner of File, Folder, Drive, or Registry Key in Windows 10

    Option 5 or 6 below can show you how to change the permissions of a registry key.

    Change Permissions of Objects for Users and Groups in Windows 10
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    UPDATE:

    Never mind. It just reverted back to default text. It looks like this method will no longer stay affective unless the owner and permissions of the keys are changed afterwards.
      My Computers


 

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