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Cortana

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Recommendation

Depends on the situation

If the setting card is visible and the assistant is not in use — turn it off.

On systems where Cortana is already gone, BoosterX does not show this setting.

Main effect
Disabling the Cortana assistant
FPS and memory
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What changes

Section titled “What changes”

Before disabling, Cortana shows itself in the Windows search field and in a separate assistant window: voice queries, activation by phrase and the associated loading of speech models. The BoosterX setting disables Cortana and the related voice scenarios: the assistant window no longer opens, voice activation and the loading of speech components stop.

Regular Windows search remains: apps, files and settings are found and launched as before. The setting does not give a universal performance gain — the effect depends on whether the assistant was actually active.

Exceptions and differences

Section titled “Exceptions and differences”

The main difference is between Windows versions. In Windows 10 the assistant is still encountered; in Windows 11 the Cortana app has been removed by Microsoft. Microsoft announced the app as deprecated in June 2023. BoosterX shows the setting only when Cortana is actually present in the system, so the card may disappear after another Windows update — do not try to restore it on systems where the assistant is already gone.

How to verify the result

Section titled “How to verify the result”

Open Windows search and make sure that apps and settings are still found, and that the Cortana window no longer launches from search.

How to change and revert

Section titled “How to change and revert”

Open Optimization → Customization → Search and assistants → Cortana and switch the toggle to the “On” position: BoosterX will apply the disabling of Cortana and the related voice scenarios. Click “Apply” at the bottom of the page; if “Instant apply” is enabled, a separate button is not required. To revert, switch the toggle to the “Off” position: BoosterX will return Windows to its default state (Cortana enabled).

Confirmation

Section titled “Confirmation”

Last check: 2026-09-19.