Are you tired of Bing being your default search engine in Windows 8.1? Do you prefer to use another search engine like Google, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo? If so, then this article is for you. In this article, we will show you how to remove Bing from Windows 8.1 and set your preferred search engine as the default. This is a relatively easy process that can be completed in just a few minutes. So, let’s get started!
First, you need to open the Control Panel. To do this, press the Windows key + X and then click on Control Panel. Alternatively, you can type “Control Panel” into the Start menu search bar and then click on the Control Panel icon. Once the Control Panel is open, click on “Programs” and then click on “Default Programs.” On the left-hand side of the window, click on “Set your default programs.” This will open a list of all the programs that are installed on your computer. Scroll down the list and find your preferred search engine. Once you have found your preferred search engine, click on the “Set this program as default” button. Bing will now be removed as the default search engine in Windows 8.1.
Finally, you need to change the default search engine in your web browser. To do this, open your web browser and click on the “Settings” icon. This icon is usually located in the top-right corner of the browser window. In the Settings menu, click on the “Search” tab. Under the “Default search engine” heading, select your preferred search engine from the drop-down list. Bing will now be removed as the default search engine in your web browser. You can now enjoy using your preferred search engine in Windows 8.1 and your web browser.
Disabling Bing Search in the Start Menu
The Start Menu in Windows 8.1 comes with Bing Search integration, which can be distracting and unnecessary for many users. To disable Bing Search in the Start Menu, follow these steps:
- Open the Start Menu by clicking on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen or by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Click on the “Settings” icon in the bottom-left corner of the Start Menu.
- Select the “Search” option from the left-hand menu.
- Under the “Search” heading, uncheck the “Show search results from the web” checkbox.
- Click on the “Save” button to save your changes.
After completing these steps, Bing Search will be disabled in the Start Menu, and you will only see local results from your computer or network.
Deactivating Bing Search in the Search Charm
The Search charm in Windows 8.1 defaults to using Bing for its search results. However, you can easily deactivate Bing and use a different search engine instead.
To deactivate Bing in the Search charm:
1. Open the Search charm by pressing the Windows key + S.
2. Click on the Settings icon in the top-right corner of the Search charm.
3. In the Settings menu, select the Search tab.
4. Under the “Search results” section, select the “Search engine” drop-down menu and choose a different search engine.
Here are some additional details about step 4:
| Search Engine | URL |
|---|---|
| https://www.google.com/ | |
| Yahoo | https://www.yahoo.com/ |
| DuckDuckGo | https://duckduckgo.com/ |
| Bing | https://www.bing.com/ |
Once you have selected a different search engine, click on the “Save” button in the bottom-right corner of the Settings menu. The Search charm will now use your selected search engine for all of its searches.
Uninstalling Bing Apps and Services
If you’re looking to remove Bing from your Windows 8.1 device, here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Uninstall Bing Apps
Start by uninstalling Bing-related apps from your device. Here’s how:
- Go to the Start screen and type “Apps” in the search bar.
- Click on “Apps and Features” from the search results.
- Scroll down the list of apps and find any Bing apps installed.
- Click on the app you want to uninstall and click on “Uninstall”.
2. Disable Bing Services
Next, disable Bing services running in the background. Here’s how:
- Press “Windows Key + R” to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “services.msc” in the Run dialog box and click “OK”.
- Scroll down the list of services and find any services related to Bing, such as “Bing Search” or “Bing Maps”.
- Right-click on the service and select “Properties”.
- In the “Service Properties” dialog box, click on the “General” tab and select “Disabled” from the “Startup type” drop-down menu.
- Click on “OK” to save the changes.
3. Set Default Browser to Non-Bing Browser
To prevent Bing from being your default browser, set a different browser as the default one. Here’s how:
- Open the Start screen and type “Default Programs” in the search bar.
- Click on “Default Programs” from the search results.
- Click on “Set your default programs”.
- Select your preferred browser from the list and click on “Set this program as default”.
4. Remove Bing from Search Bar
You can disable Bing from your search bar to avoid displaying Bing results when searching. Here’s how:
- Right-click on the taskbar and select “Properties”.
- In the “Taskbar and Navigation Properties” dialog box, click on the “Search” tab.
- Uncheck the option that says “Show search results from Cortana and the web”.
- Click on “OK” to save the changes.
5. Registry Editing (Advanced)
For advanced users, you can remove all traces of Bing by editing the registry. However, it’s important to note that this is a sensitive area and should only be attempted if you’re confident in making changes to the registry. Here’s how:
Warning: Before proceeding, back up your registry to prevent any data loss.
- Press “Windows Key + R” to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “regedit” in the Run dialog box and click “OK”.
- Navigate to the following registry key:
- Right-click on each of the values listed in the table and select “Delete”.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
| Key Path | Values to Delete |
|---|---|
| HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search | BingSearchEnabled, BingSearchDefaults |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search | BingSearchEnabled, BingSearchDefaults |
Editing the Registry to Remove Bing
Editing the Windows Registry is a more advanced method of removing Bing from Windows 8.1, but it is also a more permanent solution. However, it’s important to proceed with caution as making any mistakes in the Registry can lead to system instability or even damage.
To edit the Registry, follow these steps:
1. Open the Registry Editor
Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type regedit and click OK.
2. Navigate to the Correct Key
In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following key:
| Hive | Path |
|---|---|
| HKEY_CURRENT_USER | Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search |
3. Find the BingSearchEnabled Value
In the right-hand pane, look for the BingSearchEnabled DWORD value. If it doesn’t exist, right-click anywhere in the right-hand pane, select New, and then select DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the new value BingSearchEnabled.
4. Set the Value to 0
Double-click on the BingSearchEnabled value. In the Edit DWORD window, set the Value data field to 0. Click OK.
5. Close the Registry Editor
Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. Bing should now be removed from your Windows 8.1 machine.
How To Remove Bing From Windows 8.1
Bing is the default search engine for Windows 8.1. However, you may want to change it to another search engine, such as Google, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to the Search and apps section.
- Click on the Search tab.
- Under the “Default search engine” heading, click on the Change button.
- Select your desired search engine from the list.
- Click on the Save button.
Bing will now be removed as the default search engine for Windows 8.1.
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