You would like to disable Cortana in Windows 10 and remove it from the taskbar? After purchasing a new PC or laptop, you quickly discover that Microsoft comes with various apps and features pre-installed. In some cases, this is quite practical, but you also get a lot of functions that you don’t really need and should maybe have uninstalled. Especially in combination with the bloatware of the manufacturing companies, you free up much-needed storage space if you learn how to turn off Cortana on Windows 10.
How often, for example, do you really use the built-in Windows 10 version of the DVD burning program nowadays? Cortana is similar for a large part of the users. Add to that the intrusiveness of the self-proclaimed productivity assistant, and “disable Cortana” quickly rises to the top of the to-do list right after installing Windows 10. This guide will help you through the steps, so you will know how to turn off Cortana in Windows 10 without a hitch. The application has undergone some changes in one of the latest Windows 10 updates, namely the following:
What Changes for Cortana Users with Windows 10 Version 2004?
The system function Cortana will be replaced by an app starting with Windows version 2004 (available since May 2020). This change includes a few minor tweaks at the same time, mainly related to security and UI. This is good news for anyone who would like to disable Cortana in Windows 10: The app can be removed with much less effort.
Tip: Not sure which version of Windows 10 you are using? Then simply open Microsoft’s search function (Windows logo key + S) and enter winver in the text field. If you have difficulties with this, you may need to fix your search bar.
How to Turn Off Cortana in Windows 10?
From version 2004 and up, here’s how you go about disabling Cortana in Windows 10:
- Right-click on the Start menu (alternatively Windows logo key + X) and select Windows PowerShell as administrator.
- Confirm with Yes that this app is allowed to make changes to your device.
- Then, where the cursor is already located, enter the following command: Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 | Remove-AppxPackage.
- Press Enter once more, and you’re done – that’s how to turn off Cortana on Windows 10.
This method works for both Windows 10 Pro as well as with Windows 10 Home. Roughly speaking, this command allows you to uninstall the app package that comes with your version of Windows. The addition -allusers ensures that all users of the computer are affected by this change.
Tip: You still see the annoying Cortana box in your taskbar later? Right click on it and uncheck Show Cortana button. The icon still remains? Quite possibly an error in the display of your taskbar.
Disable Cortana on Windows 10 and Previous Versions
First of all, for your own safety, we recommend that you always update Windows to the latest version. If you don’t feel up to it at the moment, you can follow these steps to disable Cortana on Windows 10:
- Windows 10 Search (Windows logo key + S) is the easiest way to get to the Registry Editor by searching for regedit. Make sure to run the application as administrator.
- Confirm with Yes that this app is allowed to make changes to your device.
- Once in the registry, navigate to the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search.
- Open the entry AllowCortana with a double click and set its value to 0.
- After confirming with OK and restarting the PC, Cortana should be disabled.
How can I Reactivate Cortana?
You can simply undo the individual steps in the registry and set the value of AllowCortana to 1. The possibility to deactivate Cortana under Windows 10 does not disappear. From version 2004 onwards, there is also the option to call Cortana via the Microsoft Store button.
If the assistant only reacts slowly after this, we recommend to repair Start first instead of learning how to turn off Cortana on Windows 10. However, the problem often solves itself after a restart or user change. The same applies to your Windows Store, which can be restored or re-enabled again. So feel free to let off steam. Disable Cortana on Windows 10 and just use your system as usual.
