Set what information is shared in Search: registry value ConnectedSearchPrivacyComputerHKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

Policy ID: SearchPrivacy
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Search

Registry

ConnectedSearchPrivacy

-Computer

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

ConnectedSearchPrivacy

REG_DWORDComputer

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

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Type of information

Options
Item	Stored value
User info and location	1
User info only	2
Anonymous info	3

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)
; User info and location
"ConnectedSearchPrivacy"=dword:00000001
; User info only
"ConnectedSearchPrivacy"=dword:00000002
; Anonymous info
"ConnectedSearchPrivacy"=dword:00000003

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: User info and location
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v "ConnectedSearchPrivacy" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: User info only
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v "ConnectedSearchPrivacy" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: Anonymous info
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v "ConnectedSearchPrivacy" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f

PowerShell

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

# Options (use only one)
# User info and location
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# User info only
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# Anonymous info
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchPrivacy' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null