How to Enable and Disable Cortana on Windows 10

Edited 7 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Windows 10CortanaSettingsPersonalizationVirtual AssistantSystemSoftwarePrivacyConfigurationUsability

Cortana is a virtual assistant created by Microsoft that is built into Windows 10. Cortana can help you manage your tasks, set reminders, perform searches, and perform various tasks using only voice commands or typed instructions. With the introduction of Cortana, Microsoft's goal was to facilitate a more productive and efficient user experience on Windows 10 devices.

Despite Cortana's ability to make various tasks easier, some users prefer not to use this feature, either to conserve system resources, increase privacy, or because they simply prefer alternative tools. Fortunately, Windows 10 provides options to enable and disable Cortana according to user preference.

This guide will walk you through the steps to enable and disable Cortana on a Windows 10 device. We'll keep it easy for anyone to understand, ensuring you can customize your Windows experience to suit your personal needs.

How to enable Cortana on Windows 10

Enabling Cortana on your Windows 10 device can be a straightforward process, provided you have the appropriate version that supports Cortana. Here is how you can enable Cortana:

1. Go to the taskbar. You'll find the Cortana icon, which looks like a small circle, near the search bar. If you can't find the icon, don't worry, we'll cover that shortly.
2. Click the Cortana icon. If you're using it for the first time, Cortana will prompt you to log in using a Microsoft account. Follow the prompts to sign in. Signing in allows Cortana to sync your settings, reminders, and other personal data across devices.
3. Once you are logged in, Cortana will provide the option to enable voice control. This step is optional, and you can choose to enable or disable it according to your preference. If you want to enable voice commands, make sure your microphone is set up correctly.

If the Cortana icon is not visible on the taskbar, you can enable it by doing the following:

1. Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar.
2. Find "Cortana" in the menu that appears, and then select "Show Cortana icon." The icon will appear on the taskbar, giving you easy access to Cortana.

Additionally, you can enable the “Hey Cortana” feature which lets you invoke Cortana by voice command without clicking on anything:

1. Open Cortana by clicking its icon on the taskbar.
2. Click the Notebook icon on the left side of the Cortana menu.
3. Go to the "Settings" section.
4. Scroll down to find the "Hey Cortana" option. Toggle the switch to turn on voice activation.

By following these steps, Cortana will now be enabled on your device, and ready to assist you with your commands and questions.

How to disable Cortana on Windows 10

Disabling Cortana is necessary for users who find it intrusive, are concerned about privacy, or want to minimize the use of system resources. Please be aware that after major updates, Windows may re-activate Cortana by default. Here's how to disable Cortana:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the “Settings” app.
2. Go to “Privacy.”
3. Scroll down to “Speech, Inking, & Typing” in the left sidebar.
4. Click “Stop knowing me.” This will disable Cortana from interacting with you through personalized responses.
5. Additionally, you can disable Cortana from the Start menu and taskbar by right-clicking the taskbar, selecting "Cortana," and choosing "Hidden" from the context menu.

For advanced users, Cortana can also be disabled by making changes to the Windows 10 registry. Please be careful when using the Registry Editor, as incorrect changes can cause system problems. Here's how you do it through the registry:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog. Type regedit and press Enter. Click "Yes" when prompted by User Account Control.
2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search.
3. If there is no “Windows Search” folder under “Windows,” you may need to create it. Right-click “Windows,” select “New,” and then select “Key.” Name the new key “Windows Search.”
4. In the “Windows Search” folder, right-click in the right pane and select “New > DWORD (32-bit) Value”.
5. Name the new value AllowCortana and make sure its value is set to 0. To change the value, simply double-click “AllowCortana”, enter 0, and press OK.
6. Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer. Cortana should now be disabled.

Similarly, if your Windows version (Pro, Enterprise, or Education) supports it, you can disable Cortana via Group Policy. Here's how:

1. Press Windows + R again to open the Run dialog. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter. This will open the Group Policy Editor.
2. Go to "Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search."
3. In the right pane, find the policy called “Allow Cortana.”
4. Double-click the “Allow Cortana” policy, and then set it to “Disabled.” Click “Apply” and then “OK.”
5. Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your system.

After following any method to disable Cortana via Registry or Group Policy, make sure if it has been disabled successfully by trying to invoke Cortana again.

These methods provide Windows 10 users with flexible ways to turn Cortana on or off according to their preferences. Users should be aware that disabling Cortana may affect some functionalities, especially those related to voice commands and some personal features.

The choice to enable or disable Cortana is ultimately up to the user, depending on how they prefer to interact with their computer. By knowing how to manage Cortana's settings, users can tailor their Windows 10 environment to best suit their needs, balancing convenience, privacy, and system performance. If you decide to re-enable Cortana in the future, you can quickly do so by reversing the steps outlined for disabling it.

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