Microsoft is testing a way to mute Bing inside Windows 11 Search.
In the latest Windows 11 build, a hidden toggle appears in the Settings app under "Search permissions." When enabled, the toggle stops the OS from appending Bing-powered web results to local file queries. The change is limited to a small group of insider participants and can be reverted at any time. Microsoft said the feature is part of a broader effort to give users more control over their search experience.
If the toggle reaches a wider release, users who find Bing suggestions intrusive will finally have a native option to keep the search bar strictly local. It also reduces the amount of data Microsoft sends to its cloud services, a point that privacy‑focused users have raised before. Developers may need to adjust any extensions that rely on the integrated web results.
For now, the option is a test, not a final feature, and it may disappear if feedback is negative.