IsMSACloudSearchEnabled and IsAADCloudSearchEnabled: turning off cloud search in Windows
Short answer
UpdatedWindows Search can include results from your Microsoft account and your work account (OneDrive, Outlook, SharePoint) and keeps a history of what you searched for on the device. These values switch the cloud sources and the history off. In the registry it sets IsAADCloudSearchEnabled to 0 under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings, and 2 more values.
HKCUSoftware\
IsAADCloudSearchEnabledYour previous value0
What it does
Windows Search can include results from your Microsoft account and your work account (OneDrive, Outlook, SharePoint) and keeps a history of what you searched for on the device. These values switch the cloud sources and the history off.
In the app the switch is called "Disable Cloud Search", described there as: Keeps Windows Search from querying your Microsoft or work account and from storing search history.
When it helps, and when it hurts
When it helps
- Privacy, and search results that only show what is on the PC.
When it hurts
- Files that exist only in OneDrive or a work account no longer appear in Windows Search.
What it writes
Exactly what the switch changes, read from the app's source. Switching it off is what the app writes when you turn the tweak off again.
| Key and value | With the tweak | Switching it off |
|---|---|---|
| HKCUSoftware\ | 0 | Your previous valueSaved before the change, or deleted if there was none.Windows default: 1. |
| HKCUSoftware\ | 0 | Your previous valueSaved before the change, or deleted if there was none.Windows default: 1. |
| HKCUSoftware\ | 0 | Your previous valueSaved before the change, or deleted if there was none.Windows default: 1. |
From the app's source (pack_extra.hpp), app 2.0.0, checked .
The same change by hand
You do not need the app for this one. These commands make the changes from the table above. Run them in a Command Prompt opened as administrator, and make a restore point first.
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings" /v "IsAADCloudSearchEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings" /v "IsMSACloudSearchEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings" /v "IsDeviceSearchHistoryEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /freg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings" /v "IsAADCloudSearchEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings" /v "IsMSACloudSearchEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings" /v "IsDeviceSearchHistoryEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /freg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings" /v "IsAADCloudSearchEnabled"How to undo it
In the app: Yes
Switching it off puts back exactly what was there before, value for value.
Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. The app saved what each value was before the change and writes exactly that back, or removes the value if it did not exist.
Changing several settings at once? The app's Make a restore point button, on every plan, makes a Windows restore point before you start.
Verdict
A privacy choice.
Questions
- What does the "Disable Cloud Search" tweak change in Windows?
- In the registry it sets IsAADCloudSearchEnabled to 0 under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings, and 2 more values. The full list is in the table on this page, read from the app's source.
- What is the default value of IsAADCloudSearchEnabled?
- The Windows default of IsAADCloudSearchEnabled is 1. Frozen Tweaks sets it to 0, and switching the tweak off puts back the value you had before.
- Is "Disable Cloud Search" safe to switch on?
- A privacy choice. The main cost: Files that exist only in OneDrive or a work account no longer appear in Windows Search.
- How do I undo it?
- Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. Switching it off puts back exactly what was there before, value for value.
- Is "Disable Cloud Search" free in Frozen Tweaks?
- Yes. It is one of the free tweaks, with no time limit.
In the app
- Switch
- Disable Cloud Search
- Category
- Security
- Plan
- Free
- Undo
- Yes
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More tweak explainers
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Written by
Frost LIVEFounder of Frozen Tweaks, based in Hamburg, Germany. Publishes settings guides for competitive games on his YouTube channel, Frost LIVE.
In the app
- Category
- Security
- Plan
- Free
- Undo
- Yes
Frozen Tweaks
Free for Windows 10 and 11
58 tweaks free, each with an undo switch. Never edits game files.
v2.0.0 · 6.4 MB · Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit · free account, no payment details
Or type frozentweaks.com on your PC.
The free Windows app for competitive games.
58 tweaks free, each with an undo switch. Never edits game files.
v2.0.0 · 6.4 MB · Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit · free account, no payment details
Frozen Tweaks runs on Windows. Send the link to your PC and download it there.
Or type frozentweaks.com on your PC.