How to Enable or Disable Cortana in Windows 11 or 10?

Cortana was first introduced on Windows 8.1, and it is still an integral part of the Windows 11/10 operating system. Microsoft’s cloud-based digital assistant helps users with their voice commands to find files, folders, and apps on their computers. Using this Cortana app, you can do a lot, such as keep track of calendars, set reminders, search the web, etc.

A few users love to use the Cortana app and recognize it as a handy feature, but many people are annoyed and want to disable it. For your information, this application collects personal information such as your habits, location, calendar entries, search history, email, etc., and then stores them on its cloud server. It also slows down the system as it starts up with the machine and runs in the background on Windows 11/10.

Although Cortana is a pre-installed app, it’s not active by default on Windows 11/10. If you don’t use it and want to disable or remove it from your PC, this gearupwindows article will assist you. It is possible to temporarily/permanently disable it, or if you need, you can completely uninstall it from your computer.

How to Disable Cortana From Startup in Windows 11?

By default, the Cortana app starts up automatically when you boot your machine. If you want to disable the Cortana app from your PC temporarily, you can configure it to not start up with Windows.

Step 1. Open Windows Settings by pressing Windows + I keys from the keyboard.

Step 2. When Windows Settings opens, select the Apps category from the left sidebar.

Step 3. Then, click the Apps & features tab on the right sidebar.

Step 4. On the Apps & features page, scroll down to view the list of apps. Click the three-dotted menu next to Cortana and select Advanced options.

Step 5. On the Cortana page, scroll down to see the “Runs at log-in” section. Now, turn off the toggle switch of “Cortana.”

When you’re done, the Cortana service will not start up with your computer. If you wish to start it automatically with Windows, repeat the above steps, and in step 5, turn the toggle switch On next to Cortana.

How to Disable Cortana from Startup using Task Manager in Windows 11 or 10?

Follow these steps to turn off Cortana from Startup using Task Manager in Windows 11 or 10:-

Step 1. Open Task Manager.

To do that, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc from the keyboard. Alternatively, right-click on the Start button on the taskbar and select “Task Manager” from the pop-up menu to open the same.

Step 2. When Task Manager opens, navigate to the Startup tab.

Step 3. Look for the Cortana application entry and then right-click on it.

Step 4. Select Disable option from the context menu.

Now Cortana is offline. To open the Cortana app manually, search this application in the Windows Search menu or just press the shortcut keys Windows + C.

To enable Cortana with the Startup of Windows, open the Task Manager again and navigate to the Startup tab. Right-click on the Cortana entry and select Enable option. That’s it!

How to Disable Cortana Permanently Using Windows 11 or 10 Registry Editor?

If you don’t find the Cortana app useful and want to disable it permanently, you can use Windows Registry Editor. When Cortana is permanently disabled, you won’t use the feature even when you try to run it manually.

Step 1. Open Registry Editor.

To do that, press the Windows + R keys from the keyboard to launch the Run dialog box. In the Run box, type regedit and then hit Enter from the keyboard.

Step 2. When Registry Editor opens, navigate to the following key:-

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Step 3. Now, right-click the Windows folder and then select the New > Key option.

Step 4. Name the newly created key as Windows Search.

Step 5. Now, right-click the Windows Search folder, and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value option.

Step 6. Name the newly created DWORD as AllowCortana.

Step 7. Then, right-click AllowCortana on the right-sidebar and select Modify option.

Step 8. Set Value data to 0.

Step 9. Click OK.

Step 10. Restart your PC to apply changes.

Now, the Cortana app is permanently disabled. When you try to open Cortana, you will see the message, “Cortana is disabled. To use Cortana, you need to get permission from your administrator.”

If you wish to re-enable this feature on your Windows 11/10 PC, browse to the following path in Registry Editor:-

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

On the right side pane of the Windows Search folder, change AllowCortana Value data to 1.

How to Disable Cortana Permanently via Group Policy Editor in Windows 11 or 10?

If you prefer to use Local Group Policy Editor to disable Cortana app on Windows 11/10, do the following:-

Step 1. Open Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 2. When the Local Group Policy Editor window opens, navigate the following path from the left side pane:-

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search

Step 3. On the right side pane of the Search folder, locate the “Allow Cortana” policy and double-click on it to change its settings.

Step 4. Choose the Disabled option.

Step 5. Click Apply.

Step 6. Click OK.

Step 7. Reboot your computer.

Now, Cortana is permanently disabled on your PC.

To re-enable Cortana on your computer, repeat the above steps, and in step 4 above, select the Enabled or Not Configured option. That’s it!

How to Uninstall Cortana from Windows 11 or 10?

To uninstall Cortana from your PC, open Windows PowerShell with administrative rights. Use the following command to uninstall Cortana from your current user account:-

Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.549981C3F5F10* | Remove-AppxPackage

To uninstall Cortana completely from your PC, issue the following command:-

Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 | Remove-AppxPackage

How to Install Cortana in Windows 11 or 10?

To install Cortana again on your Windows 11/10 PC, navigate to the Microsoft Store link and install it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Cortana is a digital assistant that was first introduced on Windows 8.1 and remains an integral part of the Windows 11/10 operating system. It can be helpful for users who want to use voice commands to find files, folders, and apps on their computers, and it can also be used for tasks such as keeping track of calendars and setting reminders. However, some users find the app annoying and wish to disable it, as it can slow down the system and collect personal information.

There are several methods for disabling Cortana on a Windows 11/10 PC, including disabling it from the startup in Windows settings, using Task Manager to turn it off, or disabling it permanently using Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor. By following the appropriate steps, users can choose to temporarily or permanently disable Cortana on their Windows 11/10 computers based on their individual needs and preferences.

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