This article describes the steps you can take to change the Search button layout on the Taskbar in Windows 11.
Windows Search is a built-in feature that allows you to search for documents and app settings from a particular folder or the entire PC.
The Windows Search box is automatically added to the Taskbar in Windows 11 by default. It is also the default Search layout when you install Windows 11.
Devices that are currently enrolled in the Microsoft Insider Preview program will see multiple search button layouts and settings. In the near future, all devices may see the new Search button designs and should be able to change the settings as well.
There are multiple options one can select for the Search box on the Taskbar. Users can choose to display a Search icon only, a Search box, a Search button, or completely hide the Search feature on the Taskbar.
Below is how to change or completely hide the Search box or button when using Windows 11.
Change the Search button design on Taskbar using the Settings app
As mentioned above, devices that are currently enrolled in the Microsoft Insider Preview program will see multiple search button designs and settings.
If your device has updated to the latest version of Windows, use the steps below to change the Search box layout.
First, open the Windows Settings app.
You can do that by clicking on the Start menu button and selecting the Settings app. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut (Windows key + I) to launch the Settings app.
When the Settings app opens, click on the Personalization button on the left.
On the right, click the Taskbar tile to expand.
On the Personalization -> Taskbar settings pane, under the Taskbar item, select the Search tile and choose the Seach layout to display on the Taskbar:
- Hide
- Seach icon only
- Search box (default)
- Search button
Change the Search box layout via Windows Registry Editor
If you want to change the Search box layout for all users on the machine, then use the Windows Registry Editor.
Open the Windows Registry, and navigate to the folder key path as listed below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search
If you don’t see the Search folder key, right-click on the CurrentVersion key, then create the subkey (Search) folders.
On the right pane of the Search folder key, right-click and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type a new key named SearchboxTaskbarMode.
Double-click the new value name (SearchboxTaskbarMode) and enter the Value data of 0 through 3 to choose the Seach box mode to display on the Taskbar.
- 0 – Hide the search box
- 1 – Search icon only
- 2 – Search box (default)
- 3 – Search button
The option you choose will immediately be reflected on the Taskbar.
That should do it! You can now close the Registry Editor
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to change the Search box layout on the Taskbar in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
