How to Enable or Disable Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer


By default, the search box in File Explorer will show a list of suggestions as you type in the search box. These suggestions are the history of your past typed searches into the search box.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable search history for File Explorer Search Box suggestions for specific or all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable File Explorer search history.

Contents

• Option One: To Enable or Disable Search History in File Explorer using Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Two: To Enable or Disable Search History in File Explorer using a BAT file

EXAMPLE: Search history in File Explorer

OPTION ONE

To Enable or Disable Search History in File Explorer using 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.

1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2 In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and File Explorer. (see screenshot below)

3 In the right pane of File Explorer, double click/tap on Turn off display of recent search entries in the File Explorer search box to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.

5 To Enable Search History in File Explorer

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.

6 To Disable Search History in File Explorer

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

7 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Enable or Disable Search History in File Explorer using a BAT file

The downloadable .bat files below will modify the DWORD value below in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

DisableSearchBoxSuggestions DWORD

<delete> = Enable
1 = Disable

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

2 To Enable Search History in File Explorer for All Users

This is the default setting.

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

Enable_File_Explorer_Search_History.bat

Download

3 To Disable Search History in File Explorer for All Users

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

Disable_File_Explorer_Search_History.bat

Download

4 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

5 Unblock the .bat file.

6 Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

7 Click/tap on Yes if prompted by (UAC).

8 You will now notice your screen flicker as a command prompt quickly opens and closes and restarts explorer to apply the registry changes.

9 You can now delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Search in File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Change Search Options in Windows 10
• How to Clear File Explorer Search History in Windows 10
• How to Save a Search in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Device Search History in Windows 10

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