Disabling Cortana: the AllowCortana policy and what it does and does not remove
Short answer
UpdatedSetting AllowCortana to 0 under SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search disables Cortana's background hooks. On current Windows 11 builds Cortana is already far less integrated than it was, so the gain is smaller than older guides imply. This is a small cleanup rather than a meaningful performance tweak.
HKLMSOFTWARE\
AllowCortanaNot set0
What it does
Cortana historically ran background processes hooked into Windows Search and the Start menu. On current builds much of that has already been unbundled by Microsoft.
The Bing search value is arguably the more useful half: it stops local Start menu searches being sent to the internet.
When it helps, and when it hurts
When it helps
- Removes remaining background hooks and a small amount of disk and CPU activity.
- Stops Start menu searches leaving your machine, which is a privacy gain and makes the Start menu feel faster offline.
When it hurts
- Voice features and any Cortana-dependent workflow stop working.
- Web results in the Start menu disappear. Most people consider that a benefit.
- The performance effect on Windows 11 is genuinely small. Older guides overstate it.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| HKLMSOFTWARE\ | 0 | Not setThe value is deleted. Windows decides. |
| HKCUSoftware\ | 0 | 1 |
| HKCUSoftware\ | 0 | Not setThe value is deleted. Windows decides. |
| HKCUSoftware\ | 1 | 0 |
From the app's source (disable_cortana.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 "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v "AllowCortana" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" /v "BingSearchEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" /v "CortanaConsent" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" /v "DisableSearchBoxSuggestions" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /freg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v "AllowCortana" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" /v "BingSearchEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" /v "CortanaConsent" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" /v "DisableSearchBoxSuggestions" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /freg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v "AllowCortana"How to undo it
In the app: Yes
Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.
Delete AllowCortana and set BingSearchEnabled back to 1. Switching it off in Frozen Tweaks does both and resets the other Search values it changed.
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
Low risk and mildly useful, mostly for the Bing search half. Do not expect frames from it.
In the app
- Switch
- Disable Cortana
- Category
- Windows
- Plan
- Free
- Undo
- Yes
Related guides
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- Low-End PC Gaming Optimization: Getting Playable Frame RatesWhat actually works on a weak PC, in order, including the one upgrade that beats every software tweak combined, and honest limits on what tuning can do.7 min read
More tweak explainers
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- Automatic MaintenanceAutomatic Maintenance is the daily window in which Windows runs updates, security scans, disk optimization and diagnostics when it thinks the PC is idle.2 min read
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
- Windows
- 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.