Tip: You don’t need the taskbar search box to search your Windows 10 PC or web. Even after hiding the search box, open the Start menu (use the Windows logo key) and start typing to search your PC/web.

The new taskbar search box is one of the first things you notice as soon as you start using Windows 10. The search box appears right next to the Start button, where we usually pin our favorite folders, programs, and drives, and the search box is capable of searching the web as well as your PC.

The other problem with the search box is that it takes a considerable amount of space on the taskbar, which isn’t an issue for large screen users, though. Those of you who want to get rid of the search box to regain some space on the taskbar or users who open the Start menu to begin the search can configure Windows 10 to show a small search icon on the taskbar instead of the default search box (check method 3 and 4 for instructions) or completely remove the search box from the taskbar.

To remove the search box from Windows 10 taskbar, please follow the given below instructions.

Note that the search box will continue to appear as a taskbar search box whenever you click the Start button or press the Windows logo key on the taskbar.

Method 1 of 3

Remove the taskbar search box from Windows 10

Step 1: Right-click on an empty spot on the Taskbar, click Search and then click the Hidden option to remove the search box from Windows 10 taskbar.

Method 2 of 3

Disable the search box on the Windows 10 taskbar

This method is useful for those users who want to free up some space on the taskbar by placing a search icon instead of a massive search box.

Step 1: Right-click click on the taskbar, click Search, and then click the Show search icon option to show the search icon instead of the search box.

Method 3 of 3

UPDATE: This method no longer works as Microsoft has dropped the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog.

Step 1: Right-click on the empty space of the taskbar and then click Properties to open the Taskbar and Navigation Properties dialog.

Step 2: Here, under the Toolbars tab, in the box right next to Search on the taskbar option, select the Disabled option.

Click the Apply button.