Windows 11 Adds Toggles to Remove Bing Results and Store Suggestions from Search
August 31, 2026 – 7:30 pm
Windows 11 is rolling out optional August updates with two new toggles that allow users to remove Bing web results and Microsoft Store suggestions from their Search function. This change follows Microsoft’s compliance with the Digital Markets Act deadline of March 6, 2024, in the European Economic Area (EEA), where Bing was initially removed from Windows Search.
How It Works
- Privacy Settings Toggles: There are two toggles under privacy settings: one for controlling web results and another for Microsoft Store suggestions. Disabling both ensures that Search only considers results from your local machine.
- Faster Search: Turning off these toggles makes Search faster as it no longer waits for online Bing requests before displaying results already available on the computer.
- Clutter-Free Home Screen: The home screen becomes less cluttered, removing trending searches and promotional content. Results now clearly indicate their source (file, app, setting, or web).
A Global Rollout
While this feature is not new in Europe, it’s now making its way to the rest of the world with the update this month—roughly thirty months after it was implemented in EEA. This rollout follows a familiar pattern: choice screens, uninstallable apps, and honored default settings first appear in Europe before reaching other regions without prior announcement.
Ana Maria Constantin, an expert in digital marketing, product management, and branding & identity, contributes strategies that resonate with the target audience in the software/SaaS industry. She emphasizes collaboration and teamwork, empowering colleagues to achieve outstanding results.