Windows 11’s search menu shows all your recent searches. When you hover your mouse cursor over the search icon in the Taskbar, it also shows your previous search queries. If other family members use your PC or laptop, you may not want them to see what apps or files you have searched for before.
Disable Recent Searches on Windows 11 Search Menu
You can turn off Recent Searches on Windows 11 Search by making a few changes in the Windows 11 Settings.
1. Click the Windows 11 Start button and select Settings.
2. Click Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll down and click Search permissions.
4. Scroll down to the History section. Turn off the toggle for Search history on this device.
5. This will disable the Search History. To clear your existing device search history, click the Clear device search history.
Disable Recent Search Icon History
If you want to disable the recent search icon history in the Windows 11 Taskbar, follow these steps.
1. Click on the Windows 11 Start menu and select Settings.
2. Click the Personalization tab.
3. Scroll down and click on the Taskbar behaviors.
4. Uncheck the option Show recent searches when I hover over the search icon.
How to Clear the Windows Search History?
Even though you have turned off the search history on your Windows 11 device, what about the already saved searches? You need to clear your existing device search history as well.
1. Open the Settings app on your Windows 11.
2. Switch to Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll down and click Search Permissions.
4. Scroll down to the History section. In the Search History section of this device section, click on Clear device Search History.
This is how you can prevent Windows 11’s search menu and icon from showing your previous search queries. If your search history still appears on the Search menu and icon, restart your computer.
