Allow Cloud Search: registry value AllowCloudSearchComputerHKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

Policy ID: AllowCloudSearch
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Search

Registry

AllowCloudSearch

-Computer

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search Current key

AllowCloudSearch

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Cloud Search Setting

Options
Item	Stored value
Disable Cloud Search	0
Enable Cloud Search	1
User Selected	2

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]

; Options (use only one)
; Disable Cloud Search
"AllowCloudSearch"=dword:00000000
; Enable Cloud Search
"AllowCloudSearch"=dword:00000001
; User Selected
"AllowCloudSearch"=dword:00000002

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Disable Cloud Search
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v "AllowCloudSearch" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
:: Enable Cloud Search
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v "AllowCloudSearch" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: User Selected
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v "AllowCloudSearch" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Disable Cloud Search
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'AllowCloudSearch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null
# Enable Cloud Search
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'AllowCloudSearch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# User Selected
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'AllowCloudSearch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null