Turn off Windows Search AutoComplete: registry value EnabledScopesUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch
- Policy ID
- RestrictWSAutoComplete
- Scope
- Computer Configuration, User Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Internet Explorer 8.0
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Windows Components › Internet Explorer › Internet Settings › AutoComplete
Registry
EnabledScopes
REG_DWORDUserComputer…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearchHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch Current key
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch
- Enabled value
- 0
- Disabled value
- 5
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
UserPer-account setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch] ; Options (use only one) ; Enabled "EnabledScopes"=dword:00000000 ; Disabled "EnabledScopes"=dword:00000005
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Enabled reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch" /v "EnabledScopes" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f :: Disabled reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch" /v "EnabledScopes" /t REG_DWORD /d 5 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Enabled New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch' -Name 'EnabledScopes' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null # Disabled New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch' -Name 'EnabledScopes' -PropertyType DWord -Value 5 -Force | Out-Null
ComputerMachine-wide setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch] ; Options (use only one) ; Enabled "EnabledScopes"=dword:00000000 ; Disabled "EnabledScopes"=dword:00000005
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Enabled reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch" /v "EnabledScopes" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f :: Disabled reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch" /v "EnabledScopes" /t REG_DWORD /d 5 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Enabled New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch' -Name 'EnabledScopes' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null # Disabled New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\WindowsSearch' -Name 'EnabledScopes' -PropertyType DWord -Value 5 -Force | Out-Null