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WebView2 for Search

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Recommendation

Depends on the situation

Disable it if you need a local, minimalist search without web content.

BoosterX warns: when disabled, the web content of search and dependent interface elements may work incorrectly.

Main effect
Disabling the web part of search
FPS and memory
See the research

What changes

Section titled “What changes”

Windows Search and the Start menu show two kinds of results: local ones (installed apps, files, system settings) and a web part with internet results and visual content. The system web component of search is responsible for displaying the web part.

The setting disables this component. Local search is fully preserved: apps, files and settings are found and launched as before. Web results and visual web content are not displayed — search becomes local and minimalist.

Exceptions and differences

Section titled “Exceptions and differences”

Do not remove WebView2 Runtime entirely: other apps use it too. This is a more aggressive step than disabling «results from the internet»: that setting removes only web suggestions and online results, without touching search itself. The web component affects more than just search — related shell elements that use the same web layer are described in the settings for «results from the internet», «News and Interests», «Widgets» and Windows Copilot. The setting is not hidden in either Windows 10 or Windows 11.

How to verify the result

Section titled “How to verify the result”

Type the name of an installed app into search, for example «Notepad»: the app is found and launched, and there are no web results under it.

How to change and revert

Section titled “How to change and revert”

Open Optimization → Customization → Search and assistants → WebView2 for Search and move the toggle to the «Enabled» position: BoosterX will apply the disabling of the search web component. Click «Apply» at the bottom of the page; if «Instant apply» is enabled, a separate button is not required. To revert, move the toggle to the «Disabled» position: BoosterX will return Windows to its default state — the web part of search will be restored.

Confirmation

Section titled “Confirmation”

Last checked: 2026-09-20.