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Windows 10 has Cortana, which I don't like. I disabled it as soon as I could. However, looking in Task Manager, the process for Cortana is still running, and can't be effectively terminated: ending the task simply results in the process respawning a few seconds later. Using the command
has the same result: the process respawns.
Is there any way to disable Cortana so that the process doesn't keep running in the background, and doesn't respawn if terminated?
ArtOfCode
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9 Answers
The easiest way to disable certain privacy aspects of Cortana is to use a third-party tool such as O&O Software's free ShutUp10.
Part of Cortana, though, is Windows Search, so there would still be an occasional Cortana process such as file indexing. However, there should no longer be any use of the internet by Cortana.
You can remove Cortana completely, if you wish, but that also removes Windows Search (though that might not be an issue if you use a third-party tool such as DocFetcher or Mythicsoft's Agent Ransack, which provide increased search functionality). That said, after a Windows 10 update, expect that Cortana would be reinstalled. Apparently, the only way now to permanently avoid Cortana is to use another OS, such as Linux.
DrMoishe PippikDrMoishe Pippik11k33 gold badges1515 silver badges3232 bronze badges
Update 2018: Warning about Taskbar Breakage
I just reinstalled Windows 10 Pro and followed all the prescribed steps (both removing Cortana and removing all store apps) and it still works as prescribed.
It bears mentioning that removing Cortana will break the Default Taskbar in weird ways. It doesn't break Windows Search - so Explorer search still works in my experience.
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I've, personally, always replaced the default taskbar with Classic Start (linked via Ninite installer) and have no issues in day-to-day Windows usage otherwise.
Update: Remove Cortana via 'TakeOwn'
Apparently, this trick stopped working at some point. I've used @Meferdati's link at some point successfully: winaero: how to uninstall Cortona. It contains a script that does all the work for you, as well as an explanation of how it works.
Below are the steps I've been using, which are very similar to @MC10's answer, except I've always had to 'TakeOwn' to get permissions and I move my files to a different folder (instead of deleting - in case I decide to revert):
- add TakeOwn to the context menu or (use takeown from the command line).
- Navigate to C:Windows
- Create folder SystemApps.bak
- Use Takeown to gain ownership of
c:windowsSystemAppsMicrosoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy
- (Gain ownership of anything else you want to move)
- Cut/Paste the folder(s) from SystemApps to SystemApps.bak
- When the 'Permissions' pop-up appears, switch to Task Manager
- Kill SearchUI.exe process
- Switch back and give permission to move the folder
The folder is now in SystemsApps.bak - and you can simply move it back if the need arises.
Original: Remove Cortana via Powershell RemoveAppPackage
First disable it, then uninstall the Cortana app.
Disable it in the search settings:
- Click the search icon/box in the bottom left
- click the gear on the left bar
- Click off next to Cortana/Web Searches
Then uninstall it, as listed here:
In elevated PowerShell:
This is similar to MC10's answer, except that I'm sure the OS will be more accepting of uninstalling it via the 'proper channels' (powershell) instead of renaming the folder.
Windows has fixed it so now you cannot remove '..Cortana_1.6.1.52_ ..'. When this is attempted it states this is part of Windows now and cannot be removed. I guess I will go back to renaming the folder.
I'm using the same uninstall to remove other 'features' like BingNews, BingSports, Etc
Edit: Likewise, you can remove the 'Provisioned' applications (aka: crap that gets installed per user) via this method
Or.. to remove ALL Apps that you can, app or provisionedapp, you can do this:
Just a warning: This will uninstall the Windows Store. That's not an issue for me, but uninstalling everything isn't for the faint of heart.
As mentioned in comments, it's probably wise not to completely remove the Windows Store. I haven't tried this yet, but this (in the comments) looks to be ballpark of what I'd use:
Further resource: Delete Windows 10 Apps and Restore Default Windows 10 Apps
WernerCDWernerCD3,59066 gold badges2626 silver badges4040 bronze badges
Cortana is very integrated with Windows Search and fully disabling it will break Search. However, if you would like to keep Search functional, you can just disable the 'Cortana-y' parts of Cortana.
To disable Cortana in windows 10
- Press Win + R keyboard accelerator to open Run dialog box.
- Type GPedit.msc and hit Enter or OK to open Local Group Policy Editor.Navigate to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Search.
- In the right pane, double click on policy named Allow Cortana.
- Select the Disabled radio button.
- Restart the PC and Cortana and Bing Search will be disabled. (May work after signing out and in again)
Policy Description
This policy setting specifies whether Cortana is allowed on the device.
If you enable or don't configure this setting, Cortana will be allowed on the device. If you disable this setting, Cortana will be turned off.
With this set, users will still be able to use search to find things on the device and on the Internet.
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Girish SadanandanGirish Sadanandan
Disclaimer: Please see WernerCD's answer for an improved method. This will break the search bar/Start search.
After playing around with it a bit, and I think I found a method.
Open Task Manager and have it show More details. Right click on Cortana and select Open file location.
Now find the Cortana folder, right click it, and select Rename. I would recommend just adding '.bak' to the end of the folder name so you can find it easily if you want to restore it back to it's original status.
If you attempt to rename, it will tell you that the folder is in use.
This is when you want to go back to Task Manager, right click on Cortana, and select End task.
Right after the task ends, switch back to the Folder In Use window and click Try Again. The folder should be renamed and the Cortana task will not start again.
Steven M. Vascellaro5,0802020 gold badges5656 silver badges107107 bronze badges
MC10MC106,90222 gold badges2424 silver badges4141 bronze badges
Buried in the privacy policy for Win 10 (expand the Input Personalization section) is:
You can turn off Input Personalization at any time. This will stop the data collection for this feature and will delete associated data stored on your device, such as your local user dictionary and your input history. As Cortana uses this data to help understand your input, turning off Input Personalization will also disable Cortana on your device. At https://www.bing.com/account/personalization, you can also clear data sent to Microsoft, such as your contacts and calendar data, user dictionary, as well as search and browsing history if your device also had Cortana enabled.
According to HowToGeek after installation you can disable this by:
If you have chosen express settings and you want to opt out of some or all of these, all is not lost. You can still go into the settings and change things.
To turn off the first item found in the Personalization settings, you will need to open the Privacy group in Settings and then “Speech, inking, & typing”.
Click or tap “Stop getting to know me”.
I'd strongly recommend disabling it the officially supported way over screwing with an executable. The latter runs both the risk that Windows repair or a future Windows update to Cortana will install a new executable and re-enable it without your knowledge, or that because you removed the file an the update will fail. With consumer versions of W10 not allowing you to opt out of patches this could result in you getting stuck in a reboot loop due to the patch failing to install or lock you out of future security updates because you don't have one of last month's required patches.
Dan NeelyDan Neely
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Download the tool called win6x_registry_tweak. Now open a command prompt with admin rights in the folder of the downloaded exe and run this command:
This command removes the 3 cortana packages (Cortana main package, language pack and PAL package):
After a reboot your Windows is cortana free.
ATTENTION. Make a full backup if you later when to restore it to get Cortana back. If you have not done any backup, use those steps to generate the CABs for your Build. Replace Flash with the MUM names of the Cortana packages. You need to generate CABs for all Cortana MUM files like here the x86 MUMs for Build 14393 .
Community♦
magicandre1981magicandre198183.4k2020 gold badges131131 silver badges209209 bronze badges
- Paste this text into Notepad (ensuring it has 2 line breaks at the end):
- Save as
'disable cortana.reg'
(including the quotes) - Run the file you saved (double-click)
- Reboot your computer
You may still see processes named Cortana running, but these make up the built-in Windows search system (so you can find files, programs and settings from the start menu), not the networked AI assistant and associated>
BEYOND install_wim_tweak, THE UGLY PART (WARNING: BREAKS FUTURE WINDOWS UPGRADES BECAUSE OF REASONS.)
Deleting the User-level package is considerably worse. Based on techniques here and there and our Windows cousin the unlock is not to be found in the Registry, but rather a SQLite package-tracking database:
C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsAppRepositoryStateRepository-Machine.srd
The above links have some overkill, so the boiled down version is:
- Stop the StateRepository service:
Stop-Service -Name StateRepository -Force
- Take the necessary ownership and permissions of
C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsAppRepository
(Owner, Full Control). Useicacls .. /save AclFile
first, for later restoration. - Copy the database file within:
StateRepository-Machine.srd
to a scratch area. - Using a decent SQLlite editor or even with an open-source PowerShell extension perform the query
UPDATE Package SET IsInbox = 0 WHERE PackageFullName LIKE '%Cortana%'
- Save the result to the database.
- Copy the database file back into place.
- Restore the Ownership (
icacls .. /restore AclFile
) - Restart the service:
Start-Service -Name StateRepository
- Confirm it's running:
Get-Service -Name StateRepository
- Remove the package:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Where-Object { $_.Name -like '*Cortana*' } | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
BaseZenBaseZen
protected by Community♦Aug 8 '15 at 15:52
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Cortana Won't Stop Popping Up
stop cortana opening on middle mouse button
Cortana digital assistant help you easily do the day to day tasks in Windows 10, such as manage calendar events, but I have got problem witt that. On my Surface Pro 4 tablet, a box about cortana on the left hand side kept popping up initially and asked me to type something to search the web or for apps. That happened at various intervals from 10-20 seconds to 3 minutes, and seem to be connected to scroll down. It is very annoying that there was no Close option to get rid of that and it activated by itself without any input. Hwo can I fix the issues?
Stop Cortana Popping Up When Scrolling Windows 10
How to fix search box Cortana keeps popping Up Windows 10
If your Windows 10 laptop has a built-in trackpad, a few of the trackpad gestures trigger Cortana automatically.
* From your desktop, click on the Start menu and open the Setting app.
* Click on the Devices category, and select Mouse & touchpad tab.
* Go to its right side pane, scroll down to Related setting and click on Additional mouse options link.
* Find out those options, including Three Finger Tap and Four Finger Tap, and disable the features completely.
* Then you also need to disable the similar options in Control Panel. Right click on Start menu, choose “Control Panel”, go to Hardware and Sound > Synaptics Touchpad, and turn that tap feature off.
If your Windows 10 laptop has a built-in trackpad, a few of the trackpad gestures trigger Cortana automatically.
* From your desktop, click on the Start menu and open the Setting app.
* Click on the Devices category, and select Mouse & touchpad tab.
* Go to its right side pane, scroll down to Related setting and click on Additional mouse options link.
* Find out those options, including Three Finger Tap and Four Finger Tap, and disable the features completely.
* Then you also need to disable the similar options in Control Panel. Right click on Start menu, choose “Control Panel”, go to Hardware and Sound > Synaptics Touchpad, and turn that tap feature off.
If the always listening feature has been enabled and the Cortana can not compile what is being spoken, it will start on its own. You need to turn it off.
* Click on the start menu, type Cortana to search, and select the “Cortana & Search settings” with system setting from the results.
* Locate the Hey Cortana, under Let Cortana respond to Hey Cortana option, move its slider from ON to off.
The Cortana Taskbar Tidbits feature also cause such problem and make the taskbar showing all the time while the video is playing in full screen. Follow the method to turn the option off for resolving the problem.
* Click on the start menu, type Cortana to search, and select the “Cortana & Search settings” with system setting from the results.
* Locate the Hey Cortana, under Let Cortana respond to Hey Cortana option, move its slider from ON to off.
The Cortana Taskbar Tidbits feature also cause such problem and make the taskbar showing all the time while the video is playing in full screen. Follow the method to turn the option off for resolving the problem.