Microsoft’s Cortana is a personal assistant that can help you with tasks such as searching files and checking the weather.

Many Windows 10 users may find Cortana’s features useful, but dislike the amount of space it takes up in the taskbar. Fortunately, there is a way to enjoy all of Cortana’s features without taking up so much space.

Discover how to reduce the size of the Cortana search bar in Windows 10 or hide it altogether.

How to Shrink the search bar in Windows 10

Shrinking the search box on the taskbar is a simple way to free up space while still allowing access to the search bar.

Right-clicking on the search bar or an empty space in the taskbar and selecting “Search” will reveal the search icon, while older versions of Windows 10 require users to select “Cortana” to display its icon.

Clicking the option replaces the search box with a magnifying glass icon, allowing users to search when needed.

How to Hide the search bar in Windows 10

You can hide the Cortana search bar on Windows 10 by right-clicking an empty space on the taskbar and selecting Search > Hidden. On older versions, select Cortana > Hidden.

The taskbar search bar and icon will be removed, but Cortana will still be available for reminders and notifications.

To restore the search bar to your taskbar, right-click on an empty space and select “Search > Show search box.”

How to Permanently disable Cortana in Windows 10

Microsoft’s Anniversary Edition update for Windows 10 no longer allows users to turn off Cortana, the virtual assistant.

To bypass the issue, users must either edit their registry or download a third-party program.

How to Disable Cortana using the registry

Altering the registry in Windows 10 can prevent your computer from booting up. To avoid this, back up your system or exercise caution if you’re unfamiliar with the process. Remember, the registry won’t make any changes unless you ask it to, so be sure to only use trustworthy websites when making adjustments.

Caution: Ensure you have followed all instructions correctly before rebooting your device.

How to Disable Cortana using third party software

For those wary of tinkering with their computer’s registry, ShutUp10 is a third-party software that can help.

ShutUp10 gives you the power to manage certain aspects of your OS, including disabling Cortana.

To completely disable Cortana, users must open the registry and use ShutUp10 to prevent it from accessing the Internet. Testing has shown that ShutUp10 is effective in this regard. However, Windows Indexing will still be active in the background.

How to Hide the Windows 10 Cortana Search Bar: benefits

Faq

Final note

The Windows 10 Cortana Search Bar can be hidden with the help of this guide. If you have any questions, please reach out to us. Show your support by sharing this article with your friends.

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