Prevent configuration of search on Address bar: registry value AutoSearchUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Policy ID
- URLFailsPol
- Scope
- Computer Configuration, User Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Internet Explorer 7.0
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Windows Components › Internet Explorer › Internet Settings › Advanced settings › Searching
Registry
AutoSearch
REG_DWORDUserComputer…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MainHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main Current key
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Enabled value
- Depends on the option value
- Element
- When searching from the address bar:
| Item | Stored value |
|---|---|
| Display the results in the main window | 4 |
| Do not search from the address bar | 0 |
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
UserPer-account setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main] ; Options (use only one) ; Display the results in the main window "AutoSearch"=dword:00000004 ; Do not search from the address bar "AutoSearch"=dword:00000000
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Display the results in the main window reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "AutoSearch" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f :: Do not search from the address bar reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "AutoSearch" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Display the results in the main window New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'AutoSearch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null # Do not search from the address bar New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'AutoSearch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null
ComputerMachine-wide setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main] ; Options (use only one) ; Display the results in the main window "AutoSearch"=dword:00000004 ; Do not search from the address bar "AutoSearch"=dword:00000000
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Display the results in the main window reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "AutoSearch" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f :: Do not search from the address bar reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "AutoSearch" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Display the results in the main window New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'AutoSearch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null # Do not search from the address bar New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'AutoSearch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null