The Tool Desk
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Start with Search permissions
Open Settings > Privacy & security > Search permissions. This is the main place to review web-result filtering, cloud-connected results, and the history Windows Search keeps on the device. The available controls can vary by Windows version and device.
Choose how SafeSearch handles web results
Windows Search uses Bing technology to assess whether web results include sensitive content. When content is deemed adult, Windows may replace its preview with a “See web results” button. Under Search permissions > SafeSearch, the selection affects web results and previews—not which local files Windows indexes.
- Strict: The setting is shared with Bing and overrides the SafeSearch setting on Bing.com.
- Moderate or Off: Windows follows the SafeSearch setting selected on Bing.com.
For Microsoft’s explanation of the controls, see Windows Search and privacy.
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Decide whether cloud results should appear
Windows Search can combine results from your device with results associated with a personal Microsoft account or a work or school account. Personal-account results may include OneDrive, Outlook, and other Microsoft services. Work or school results may include OneDrive for Business, Outlook, SharePoint, and other Microsoft Search services.
Review which account categories are enabled for cloud content search and whether you want those results in taskbar searches—especially on a shared device. Microsoft says connected accounts can be reviewed from the taskbar Search panel’s Options menu. To manage accounts connected to Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts. Removing an account from Windows is not the same as deleting its data from the online service.
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Clear device search history
Windows Search saves search history locally on the device to help find things faster. To clear that local record, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Search permissions > History, then select Clear device search history. This action does not clear Bing history associated with a Microsoft account.
Check what Windows indexes
Open Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows to review the scope of file indexing and the available indexing options. Indexing helps Windows find files; it is a separate question from whether taskbar Search includes results from cloud accounts.
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Review Classic or Enhanced scope
Microsoft describes two indexing modes: Classic and Enhanced. Classic indexes selected common locations, while Enhanced covers a broader range of locations. The defaults and available choices can vary by Windows version and device, so check the locations shown on your PC rather than assuming a particular folder list.
Choose whether to index file contents
In indexing options, Windows can be configured to index file properties only or both properties and file contents, where those choices are available. Properties include information such as a file’s name and type; indexing contents can make text inside supported files searchable. If you want to limit what search can find, review both the included locations and the content-indexing choice.
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Understand semantic indexing on supported PCs
On supported Copilot+ PCs and supported file types, semantic indexing adds another way to find information. Microsoft says data gathered through semantic indexing is stored locally on the PC—or locally to Cloud PC storage on supported Windows 365 devices—is not stored by Microsoft, and is not used to train AI models. Microsoft also cautions that apps installed on the PC may be able to read index data. Local storage therefore does not mean the index is inaccessible to every app on the device. These statements apply to semantic indexing, not automatically to every Windows 11 PC or every kind of search indexing. See Microsoft’s guidance on configuring search indexing in Windows.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Clear Bing history separately
Bing search history associated with a signed-in Microsoft account is separate from the history Windows Search saves on the device. Microsoft says searches made while signed in appear on the Microsoft privacy dashboard; searches made while not signed in are not displayed there. To review or clear account-associated history, use the Microsoft privacy dashboard or Bing Search History.
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Think of these as two distinct records: clear device history from Windows Search permissions, and manage account-associated Bing history through Microsoft’s account or Bing controls.
Keep Activity history distinct from Search history
Settings > Privacy & security > Activity history controls a different feature; changing it does not replace the Search permissions or Bing history steps above. Microsoft says Windows 11 Activity history is stored locally. The option to send Activity history to Microsoft was deprecated for Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 by the January 23, 2024 update. See Microsoft’s Activity history and your privacy guidance.
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