Cortana stay search for a few steps to set it quiet

After giving it some thought, I noticed that even though Microsoft introduced Cortana to handle both internal and external searches within the system, it seems like they've since moved away from using it. Instead, many users have switched to third-party document search tools. Recently, while working on content and logged into my Microsoft account, I discovered that Cortana's online search feature had been blocked, but the local search option was still active. It's quite a shame that such a useful tool can't be fully utilized without being hidden—most users are well aware of this situation!

To begin with, click on the Cortana icon in the taskbar (or use the Win+S shortcut) and then click the "gear" icon on the left to open the settings menu.

It’s important to note that starting with Windows 10 version 1709, Cortana’s settings are now located in the System Settings app. Earlier versions (like 1511, 1607, and 1703) displayed these options directly in the Cortana interface. Since I’m demonstrating with the latest version, if you find the settings in a different location, it’s likely due to a version mismatch.

For the new version, go to “Permissions and History” and disable all the options on that page.

Next, navigate to “Manage Cortana’s access to information from this device” and turn off all available options.

In older versions, the options are found directly on the Cortana search interface.

Then, go to “Change Cortana’s knowledge about me in the cloud.” After the browser loads, log in to your Microsoft account and select the option to clear “Other Cortana Data and Personalized Voice, Printing, and Typing,” or you can go directly to https://account.microsoft.com/privacy/ to delete all cloud-stored search history.

Finally, go to “Settings - Privacy - Voice, Inkwriting, and Typing” and toggle off the “Get to know you” option.

By following these steps, you can completely disable Cortana’s search features while keeping the system’s local search functionality intact. This way, you can still find files on your computer without any privacy concerns.