The Windows 10 search box takes up a big chunk of the taskbar, room that could hold pinned apps or open windows. You can shrink it to a small magnifying glass icon or hide it completely in two clicks, and search still works the moment you open Start and start typing. This guide shows the options, what to do when the setting is missing, and how to remove the other taskbar buttons that often sit next to it.
Windows 10 reached end of support in October 2025. In Windows 11, the same choice is in Taskbar settings under Search.
Quick answer
Right-click an empty part of the taskbar, point to Search, and choose Hidden. Choose Show search icon if you’d rather keep a small button.
How to hide the search bar
- Right-click an empty area of the taskbar (not an app icon).
- Point to Search in the menu.
- Choose one option:
- Hidden: Removes the search box and icon completely.
- Show search icon: Replaces the box with a small magnifying glass.
- Show search box: Brings back the full box.
The change takes effect right away. Nothing is uninstalled, and you can switch back anytime.
How to search after hiding it
- Press the Windows key and start typing. Results appear as soon as you type.
- Press Windows + S to open search directly.
- Click Start and type.
The Search option is missing or grayed out
- Small taskbar buttons are on. The full box can’t be shown with small buttons. Right-click the taskbar, choose Taskbar settings, and turn off Use small taskbar buttons if you want the box back.
- The taskbar is on the side of the screen. A vertical taskbar only shows the icon, not the box.
- Tablet mode is on. Turn it off in Action Center to see the normal taskbar menu.
- It’s managed by your organization. On work PCs, IT may control the setting.
Turn off search highlights
Newer Windows 10 builds show pictures and “highlights” in the search box on some days. To turn them off, right-click the taskbar, point to Search, and uncheck Show search highlights.
Right-click the taskbar and uncheck these if you don’t use them:
- Show Task View button
- Show Cortana button (on builds that still have it)
- News and interests > Turn off, to remove the weather widget
- Show People on the taskbar (on older builds)
Change it with the registry (advanced)
If the taskbar menu won’t respond, the same setting lives in the registry. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search. Double-click SearchboxTaskbarMode and set it to 0 for hidden, 1 for the icon, or 2 for the full box. Sign out and back in, or restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager, to apply it. Back up the registry before editing.
Frequently asked questions
Does hiding the search bar turn off search?
No. Search works exactly the same. Only the box on the taskbar is hidden.
Why did the search box come back after an update?
Some Windows updates reset taskbar settings. Repeat the steps above to hide it again.
Can I hide it on only one monitor?
The setting applies to the main taskbar. Taskbars on other monitors follow the multiple displays options in Taskbar settings.
Tips
- If search stops returning results, see fixing the search bar in Windows 10.
- Hiding the box doesn’t stop Windows from indexing files. To change that, see disabling Windows Search.
Summary
- Right-click the taskbar.
- Point to Search and choose Hidden or Show search icon.
- Use the Windows key or Windows + S to search.
- Turn off small buttons if the box option is missing.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He started on a university help desk, spent years as the IT person for small businesses, and has been writing tech guides full time since 2020. Each guide is checked on a device he owns, and re-checked when a menu moves. More about Kermit.