Instructions to disable Cortana on Windows 10 Anniversary Update

On the Windows 10 Anniversary update, Microsoft has given up the right to turn off Cortana virtual assistant, and this means you'll have to live with Cortana wherever you are. However, if you want, you can still disable Cortana virtual assistant through Registry Editor or Local Group Policy Editor.

1. Disable Cortana on the Home version

If you use Windows 10 Home, you can disable Cortana through the Registry. If you use Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise, you can disable Cortana through Group Policy Editor.

Note:

Registry Editor is a very powerful tool, and if any errors occur it can cause errors on your system. So before you begin the process you should perform a backup of the Registry and the system to avoid a bad situation.

Also, you should create a System Restore point.

Steps to disable Cortana through the Registry:

First press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run command window, then enter regedit there and press Enter to open the Registry Editor window.

Next on the Registry Editor window, navigate to the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindows Search

If you can't find the Windows Search key in the Windows folder, right-click the Windows folder and select New => Key and name this folder Windows Search.

Next right-click the Windows Search key in the left pane, then select New => DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Name the DWORD (32-bit) Value that you just created as AllowCortana . Double click on AllowCortana and set the value in the Value Data frame to 0 .

Finally close the Registry Editor window and proceed to log out and log back in or restart your computer to apply the changes.

In case if you want to restore Cortana, you take the same steps and set the value of AllowCortana to 1 or delete the value Cortana.

2. Use Registry editing available

If you do not want to edit the Registry manually, you can use the edited Registry to disable Cortana. Just download the ZIP file Disable Cortana Registry to hack it and extract it. You should now see two files, Disable Cortana.reg and Enable Cortana.reg.

Double click on the Disable Cortana.reg file and agree to add information to the Registry to disable Cortana. Or double click on the Enable file Cortana.reg to enable Cortana.

Finally close the Registry Editor window and proceed to log out and log back in or restart your computer to apply the changes.

Download Disable Cortana Registry hacked to your computer and extract it here.

3. Disable Cortana on Pro and Enterprise versions

If using Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise, the simplest way to disable Cortana is to use Local Group Policy Editor.

First press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run command window, then enter gpedit.msc there and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor window.

In the Local Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the key:

Computer Configuration> Administrative Templates> Windows Components> Search

Next, find and double-click the Allow Cortana option in the right pane.

Set the Allow Cortana option to Disabled , then click OK .

Finally close the Local Group Policy Editor window and then log off and log back in or restart your computer to apply the changes.

In case if you want to reactivate Cortana, take the same steps and double-click Allow Cortana (or Enable Cortana ) and set the value to Not Configured or Enabled .

Refer to some of the following articles:

1. How to download Windows 10 Anniversary Update update?

1. Here's how to bring the File Explorer interface to Windows 10 like File Explorer Windows 7

1. This is how to check your Windows 10 is Win copyright or not?

Good luck!