Windows Desktop Search Bar

I just had an ugly 'Search' toolbar appear in the middle of my desktop background. I closed it straight away without thinking to grab a screenshot.

I'm not sure if it was related to the latest Edge update or where it came from but I'm bloody glad it's gone.

Win10 22H2.

 

It popped up on one of my Windows 10 computers about an hour ago.
It's the Edge Desktop Search Bar. I closed it immediately.

Following Windows 11, Microsoft pushes Bing desktop search bar to Windows 10 via Edge | Neowin

Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge Desktop Search Bar in Windows 10 | Tutorials

 

Ah ha! Thanks for the heads-up.

 

It happens on Windows 11 as well...

 

Shshshh, here's my prediction for Windows 12 / 13. It will be completely engaged with Edge browser. That sounds kind of familiar [cough, cough, Chromebook, cough].

 

My desktop was graced by it after an Edge update yesterday

Edgebook?

 

I've seen it on multiple Windows 10 PCs. None on 11 yet. Bing!!!!!

 

nothing here - but: i use another start menu, and the BING-Buttons and sidebar (and some more) is disabled by GPO. the general searchbar in taskbar is also disabled (cortana search), so assume this as first reason for the new one shown.

 

Same on a Windows 10

 

This crap enabled itself on my second machine this morning and was disabled just as quickly. I hope they don't come up with any more bright ideas like this again.

 

I don't like it either, but at least it's quick and easy to disable.

 

This pest returned again on one of my machines. I hope I don't see it any more times!

 

It popped up again on one of my Windows 10 computers recently.

I believe it was dreamt up in this department.
~ Funny Image Removed As per Policy ~

 

nothing here, still not here, i guess, i've made something wrong to rant with you. damn.

 

... And it re-appeared on my second machine today.

I hate tt when companies don't respect their customer's choices. I closed it immediately the first time it arrived. Why would I want it the second time?

I don't use Edge anyway. The only reason I ever open it is to check for updates.

 

still a miracle that you dont use GPO to elimante this behavior.

 

Windows Home.

 

its "WebWidgetAllowed"

my complete GPO settings, gpo has its own store, this is just the copy to edge.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"ConfigureDoNotTrack"=dword:00000001
"PaymentMethodQueryEnabled"=dword:00000000
"UserFeedbackAllowed"=dword:00000000
"ResolveNavigationErrorsUseWebService"=dword:00000000
"AlternateErrorPagesEnabled"=dword:00000000
"TyposquattingCheckerEnabled"=dword:00000000
"LocalProvidersEnabled"=dword:00000000
"NewPDFReaderEnabled"=dword:00000000
"RunAllFlashInAllowMode"=dword:00000000
"ShowAcrobatSubscriptionButton"=dword:00000000
"AutoLaunchProtocolsComponentEnabled"=dword:00000000
"EdgeFollowEnabled"=dword:00000000
"BrowserNetworkTimeQueriesEnabled"=dword:00000000
"AutofillCreditCardEnabled"=dword:00000000
"MathSolverEnabled"=dword:00000000
"AllowGamesMenu"=dword:00000000
"CryptoWalletEnabled"=dword:00000000
"HubsSidebarEnabled"=dword:00000000
"NewTabPagePrerenderEnabled"=dword:00000000
"BrowserCodeIntegritySetting"=dword:00000002
"MicrosoftEdgeInsiderPromotionEnabled"=dword:00000000
"NewTabPageContentEnabled"=dword:00000000
"ShowMicrosoftRewards"=dword:00000000
"RemoteDebuggingAllowed"=dword:00000000
"ShowHomeButton"=dword:00000000
"EdgeShoppingAssistantEnabled"=dword:00000000
"StartupBoostEnabled"=dword:00000000
"AllowSurfGame"=dword:00000000
"PromotionalTabsEnabled"=dword:00000000
"TranslateEnabled"=dword:00000000
"EdgeEnhanceImagesEnabled"=dword:00000000
"PersonalizationReportingEnabled"=dword:00000000
"EdgeCollectionsEnabled"=dword:00000000
"TabServicesEnabled"=dword:00000000
"NewTabPageAppLauncherEnabled"=dword:00000000
"NewTabPageQuickLinksEnabled"=dword:00000000
"EdgeDiscoverEnabled"=dword:00000000
"SpotlightExperiencesAndRecommendationsEnabled"=dword:00000000
"ForceGoogleSafeSearch"=dword:00000000
"WebWidgetAllowed"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\ExtensionInstallBlocklist]
"1"="ghbmnnjooekpmoecnnnilnnbdlolhkhi"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended]
"NewPDFReaderEnabled"=dword:00000000
"AutofillCreditCardEnabled"=dword:00000000
"HubsSidebarEnabled"=dword:00000000
"NewTabPagePrerenderEnabled"=dword:00000000
"ShowMicrosoftRewards"=dword:00000000
"ShowHomeButton"=dword:00000000
"EdgeShoppingAssistantEnabled"=dword:00000000
"StartupBoostEnabled"=dword:00000000
"TranslateEnabled"=dword:00000000
"EdgeDiscoverEnabled"=dword:00000000