How to Disable Recent Searches on Windows 11

You may be aware that the Search option in Windows 11 displays all of your recent searches. Additionally, your previous search queries are displayed when you hover your mouse cursor over the Taskbar’s search button.

It’s a useful tool that allows you to do the previous search without having to visit the Search menu and type the same query twice. Although it’s a fantastic feature, not everyone should use it.

You might not want other family members using your laptop or PC to view the files or apps you’ve previously searched for. Many users might find this to be a privacy worry; if this is the case for you, you can simply disable it on your Windows 11 machine.

How to Turn Windows 11’s Recent Searches Off
A detailed tutorial on turning off recent searches from the Windows 11 Search menu can be found in this post. The Windows 11 Taskbar’s recent search icon history will likewise be disabled as a result. Now, let’s get going.

Disable Recent Searches on Windows 11 Search Menu
In this way, we will block the recent searches using the Windows 11 Settings program. This is what you should do.

1. To begin, click the Start button in Windows 11 and choose Settings.

2. Select the Privacy & Security option from the Settings page.

Read more: How to Fix Err_Cache_Miss Error in Chrome

3. Scroll down to the Right pane and select Search permissions.

4. Scroll down to the History portion of the Search Permissions screen. Next, disable this device’s search history toggle.

As a result, the Search History will be disabled. Click the Clear device search history option if you want to remove the past searches that have been made with your device.

On a Windows 11 device, you can disable search history in this way.

Disable Recent Search Icon History
You must adhere to this guide if you wish to disable the Windows 11 Taskbar’s recent search icon history. Here’s how to make the recent search history on the Windows 11 Taskbar’s Search icon disappear.

1. In Windows 11, select the Start menu to open the Settings menu.

2. From the Settings app’s left pane, choose the Personalization tab.

3. After swiping down, click on the Taskbar behaviors to the right.

4. On the expanded menu, uncheck the box next to “Show recent searches when I hover over the search icon”.

This will hide the recent searches displayed on the Windows 11 Taskbar’s search icon.

How Can Windows Search History Be Cleaned?
What happens to the searches that you have previously saved, even when you have disabled your Windows 11 device’s search history? You also need to delete the search history that is currently on your device. To delete the device search history on Windows 11, use the instructions we’ve provided below.

1. On your Windows 11, open the Settings app.

2. Select Privacy & Security when the Settings app appears.

3. Scroll down to the right and select Search Permissions.

4. Next, go to the History area by scrolling down. Click on Clear device in this device’s Search History section. Look up the past.

This will delete all search history from your device. Don’t forget to restart your machine.

Thus, you can disable the recent search history on a Windows 11 PC or laptop in this way. You can use this to stop your previous search queries from appearing in Windows 11’s search menu and search icon.


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About ugamasontech

Welcome to UgamasonTech! I’m Ugama Stanley Chinedu, the passionate blogger behind this tech haven. With a deep-rooted love for technology and innovation, I explore the latest trends, reviews, and insights to keep you informed and ahead of the curve. Join me on a journey through the ever-evolving tech landscape as we uncover the future together.

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