[Tip] Restore Old Classic Search Box in Windows 10 File Explorer (This PC)
Newer versions of Windows 10 operating system come with a new updated (or modified) Search box in File Explorer (or This PC, My Computer). This new search experience in File Explorer is powered by Windows Search which means the new search box now integrates your OneDrive account online content with offline or local search results.
We reviewed the new Search box in Windows 10 File Explorer in following exclusive article:
[Review] New Updated Search Box in File Explorer in Windows 10
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Personally I don’t like the new Search box UI and functionality. It lacks very essential features such as:
- Removal of instant search results display. The new search box doesn’t show instant results as soon as you start typing. Instead you need to click on Arrow button or press Enter key to get search results.
- It no longer allows deletion of recent search entries from drop-down history list.
- The new search box has many GUI glitches and issues.
- Many times the new search box stops responding and gets stuck. I highlighted the issue and a working solution in following tutorial:
[Bug Fix] Search Box in Windows 10 File Explorer Stuck or Not Responding
There are many Windows 10 users who also don’t like the new Search box UI and functionality in Windows 10.
Recently an AskVG reader “Athanasios Chaldoupis” shared a registry tweak to disable new Search box behavior and restore the old classic search box UI in Windows 10 File Explorer.
The registry tweak was actually about activating and enabling Admin Approval Mode for UAC (User Account Control) feature (More Info). I didn’t try the registry tweak at that time but a few days back another AskVG reader “lucifer” confirmed the registry tweak. It worked in his Windows 10 device too.
So I decided to give it a try and surprisingly I was also able to restore classic Search box in Windows 10 File Explorer using the same registry tweak.
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If you also want to replace new updated Search box with old classic search box in Windows 10 File Explorer, this article will help you.
Once you restore classic Search box, you’ll get:
- Immediate instant search results in File Explorer without clicking on Arrow button or pressing Enter key.
- You’ll be able to delete previous search entries from Search box drop-down history list. Just hover mouse cursor over an entry and press Delete key.
- While searching if you click on Close (X) button in Search box, it goes back to previous drive or folder.
Following animated image shows the old classic Search box restored successfully in Windows 10 File Explorer:
Following steps will help you in getting old classic Search box back in Windows 10 File Explorer:
1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type regedit and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.
2. Now go to following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
3. In right-side pane, look for ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin DWORD. Make sure its value is set to 0
In my Windows 10 device, the value was already set to 0. If the value of ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin is different in your machine, double-click on the DWORD and change its value to 0
4. Again look for EnableLUA DWORD. By default, the value of EnableLUA is set to 1 in all Windows 10 devices. Double-click on the DWORD and change its value to 0
PS: If any of the above mentioned DWORDs don’t exist in your Windows 10 device, you’ll need to create it manually. Right-click on empty area and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value option. Set the name of DWORD as mentioned above and keep the value as 0.
5. You must restart your computer to apply changes. Killing (End task) Explorer will not work.
Restart your computer and after reboot, open File Explorer and get ready to enjoy old classic Search box experience in Windows 10.
In future, if you want to restore default settings and new Search box UI and behavior, restore values of ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin and EnableLUA DWORDs in Registry Editor.
Also Check:
How to Disable Display of Recent Search Entries in Windows Explorer Search Box?
Great!
Does “date:” or “size:” work with this?
^^ Didn’t test but it should work.
Did not work for me.. not only were no changes noted, but these registry entries look like user permissions entries, and may create vulnerability. Would make more sense to me to edit the registry somewhere in a folder with ‘search’ or ‘shell’ or ‘explorer’ in the name or path.
I just want instant search results!
Worked perfectly. Thank you.
This actually worked… I was spending like 2 days just figuring out how to bring it back to the original search box of the file explorer because the new version is less convenient. Thank you whoever uploaded this method! <3
Really cool! have the old search back. cheers!
i did this it worked but my office 360 also stopped working. so i had to revert:(
Nice work big biggest thanks
Thank you Thank you Thank you!
Thank you
The registry tweak made the file explorer search box work fine. But the search “Magnifier Icon” in the task bar still does not work.
Thank you so much! The new file explorer was driving me c.zy, having to press enter to display results is insane.
Many Many thanks sir, problem is solved
This works fine for administrator accounts, but non-administrator accounts do not work. I tried changing the “ConsentPromptBehaviorUser” setting to zero, but that didn’t work either. This is a domain computer.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
New SEARCH is a disaster!
So happy to have a working SEARCH bar back!
Thanks so much! I was looking forward to test the responsiveness of the search box in the Explorer on my new PC, and I was disappointed that I couldn’t use it as I used to. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t find any settings for this. I’m really happy to have restored the classic search box! You said everything, I hope Windows listen to you.
I LOVE YOU WHOEVER WROTE THIS ARTICLE!
THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCHHHHH!!!!
The only issue I have ran into with changing this is with the Xbox Game Pass app.
Some games allow mods to be enabled, BUT you can’t enable them if these registry entries are turned off.
TY verrrrrry much. I just wanted to punch every windows employee. You just saved them
You solved a problem I was having for a long time.Thank you very mush.
Hello, I didn’t modify ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin and It works
It was bothering me since they changed… At last i took the time to find a solution & voila, success…
Much obliged!
How do you do this for nonadmin user?
Worked. Thanks.
Thank You, It really works.
Wonderful Trick and working in Windows 11.
The above instructions worked for me.
It worked for me, but I noticed soon after that the search box next to the windows start button no longer responds (other than to display “type here to search,” which is grayed out when I hover over it). I’m not positive that the registry tweak caused this problem, but I noticed it soon after the tweak.
It worked for me (thank you), but it reverts back after a shut down
or restart. Then I have to restore the registry to add the tweaks, and
then restart to load the restored registry settings. Any ideas as to
how to make the changes permanent?