How to Uninstall Cortana from Windows 11: 2026 Guide

You want Cortana gone from your Windows 11 PC. I get it. Microsoft’s digital assistant sits there, consuming resources, and you never asked for it. While Windows 11 makes this harder than it should be, you absolutely can remove or disable Cortana completely.

The short answer: Windows 11 doesn’t include a simple “uninstall” button for Cortana, but you can remove it using PowerShell commands, disable it through Group Policy, or stop it from running at startup. Each method has different levels of permanence.

Let me walk you through every method that actually works in 2026, from the easiest to the most thorough.

Why Removing Cortana Makes Sense

Before we dive into the technical steps, here’s why you might want to do this:

Resource usage: Cortana runs background processes even when you’re not using it. On older hardware or budget laptops, every megabyte of RAM counts.

Privacy concerns: The assistant collects search data, voice recordings, and usage patterns. If you don’t use these features, why share the data?

Screen real estate: The search box and Cortana interface take up taskbar space that could display other applications.

Preference for alternatives: Maybe you use Google Assistant, Alexa, or simply prefer searching the old-fashioned way.

Method 1: Disable Cortana Through Windows Settings

This is the quickest approach and doesn’t require administrative commands. It won’t fully uninstall Cortana, but it stops the app from running and appearing in your workflow.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Open Windows Settings by pressing Win + I on your keyboard
2. Click on Apps in the left sidebar
3. Select Apps & features or Installed apps (depending on your Windows 11 version)
4. Scroll down or use the search box to find Cortana
5. Click the three-dot menu next to Cortana
6. Select Advanced options
7. Scroll to the Runs at log-in section
8. Toggle this option to Off
9. Scroll further down and click Terminate to stop any running processes
10. Set Background apps permissions to Never

This method keeps Cortana installed but prevents it from launching automatically or running in the background. You’ll still see it in your app list, but it won’t consume resources unless you manually open it.

Method 2: Uninstall Cortana Using PowerShell

This is the most effective method for completely removing Cortana from Windows 11. It requires administrator access and comfort with command-line tools.

Full Removal Instructions

Step 1: Open PowerShell as Administrator

• Right-click the Start button
• Select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)
• Click Yes when the User Account Control prompt appears

Step 2: Execute the Uninstall Command

Type or paste this command exactly as written:

Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 | Remove-AppxPackage

Press Enter and wait for the process to complete. You won’t see a progress bar, but the command prompt will return when finished.

Alternative command if the above doesn’t work:

Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.549981C3F5F10* | Remove-AppxPackage

Step 3: Verify Removal

Open your Start menu and search for Cortana. If the uninstall worked, you shouldn’t see any results. You can also check the Apps & features list to confirm it’s gone.

What This Method Does

The PowerShell command completely removes the Cortana application package from your system. Unlike simply disabling it, this frees up disk space (approximately 50-100MB depending on cached data) and ensures no Cortana processes can run.

Important note: Windows updates sometimes reinstall Cortana. If this happens, you’ll need to run the PowerShell command again, or use the Group Policy method below to prevent reinstallation.

Method 3: Disable Cortana Using Group Policy Editor

This method works best for Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions. Home edition users will need to use Registry Editor instead (covered in Method 4).

Accessing Group Policy Settings

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter
3. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search
4. Find the policy named Allow Cortana
5. Double-click to open it
6. Select Disabled
7. Click Apply, then OK
8. Restart your computer for changes to take effect

This approach prevents Cortana from running system-wide and survives Windows updates better than PowerShell removal. However, the application files remain on your system.

Preventing Cortana Web Searches

While you’re in Group Policy Editor, you can also stop Cortana from sending your searches to Bing:

1. In the same Search folder, locate Don’t search the web or display web results in Search
2. Double-click and set it to Enabled
3. Click Apply and OK

This keeps your searches local and private, even if Cortana somehow re-enables itself.

Method 4: Disable Cortana Using Registry Editor

Windows 11 Home users don’t have access to Group Policy Editor, but you can achieve the same result through Registry Editor. This method requires extreme caution because incorrect registry changes can cause system instability.

Registry Modification Steps

Step 1: Create a System Restore Point

Before touching the registry, create a restore point:

• Search for “Create a restore point” in the Start menu
• Click Create button
• Name it something like “Before Cortana Registry Edit”
• Click Create again and wait for completion

Step 2: Open Registry Editor

• Press Win + R
• Type regedit and press Enter
• Click Yes on the UAC prompt

Step 3: Navigate to the Cortana Key

Go to this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

If the Windows Search key doesn’t exist, you’ll need to create it:

• Right-click on Windows folder
• Select New > Key
• Name it Windows Search

Step 4: Create the Disable Value

• Right-click in the right pane (or inside the Windows Search key)
• Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
• Name it AllowCortana
• Double-click the new value
• Set the value data to 0
• Click OK

Step 5: Restart Your PC

Close Registry Editor and restart your computer. Cortana will be disabled when you log back in.

Method 5: Remove Cortana from Taskbar Search

Even if you keep Cortana installed, you can remove it from your taskbar search experience:

1. Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar
2. Select Taskbar settings
3. Click on Taskbar items
4. Toggle Search to Off (this removes the search box entirely)

Alternatively, you can customize the search box:

• Right-click the taskbar
• Hover over Search
• Choose Search icon only or Hidden

This doesn’t uninstall Cortana but makes it invisible in your daily workflow.

Comparison of Methods

Method	Difficulty	Permanence	Works on Home Edition	Frees Disk Space
Windows Settings	Easy	Low (survives until you change settings)	Yes	No
PowerShell Uninstall	Medium	Medium (may reinstall with updates)	Yes	Yes
Group Policy	Medium	High	No (Pro/Enterprise only)	No
Registry Edit	Medium-Hard	High	Yes	No
Taskbar Removal	Easy	Medium	Yes	No

What Happens After You Remove Cortana

Here’s what changes once Cortana is gone:

Search functionality: Windows search still works perfectly. You can search for files, apps, and settings from the Start menu. You just won’t get Cortana’s voice responses or web-integrated suggestions.

Voice commands: If you used voice commands, those stop working. Windows 11 doesn’t offer a built-in alternative, but you can use third-party voice control software if needed.

Reminders and tasks: Any reminders or tasks stored in Cortana will be inaccessible. Export or migrate these to Microsoft To Do, Google Keep, or another task manager before removing Cortana.

Microsoft 365 integration: Some Microsoft 365 features that connected with Cortana may lose that integration, but the core apps work normally.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Cortana Reinstalls After Windows Updates

This happens frequently. Microsoft considers Cortana a system component and may reinstall it during feature updates.

Solution: Use the Group Policy or Registry method for more permanent disabling. If you prefer complete removal via PowerShell, you’ll need to re-run the uninstall command after major updates.

PowerShell Command Returns an Error

If you see “Remove-AppxPackage : Deployment failed” or similar errors:

1. Make sure you’re running PowerShell as Administrator
2. Try the alternative command with wildcards: Get-AppxPackage *Cortana* | Remove-AppxPackage
3. Restart your PC and try again
4. Check if Cortana is currently running and close it from Task Manager first

Group Policy Editor Not Available

Windows 11 Home edition doesn’t include gpedit.msc. You have two options:

Option A: Use the Registry Editor method instead (Method 4 above)

Option B: Install Group Policy Editor on Home edition using third-party scripts (not recommended unless you’re technically comfortable)

Search Box Disappeared Completely

If you hid the search box but want basic search back:

1. Right-click the taskbar
2. Select Taskbar settings
3. Enable Search under Taskbar items
4. The search icon will reappear without Cortana integration

Should You Uninstall or Just Disable?

This depends on your specific needs:

Uninstall if:

• You’re absolutely certain you won’t use voice assistant features
• You need to reclaim disk space on a small SSD
• You’re uncomfortable with any Cortana processes running

Just disable if:

• You might want to try Cortana features later
• You don’t want to deal with potential reinstalls after updates
• You’re less comfortable with PowerShell or Registry editing

For most users, disabling through Windows Settings or Group Policy provides the best balance of simplicity and effectiveness. You eliminate the resource usage and privacy concerns without the risk of system complications.

Privacy Considerations

Even after removing Cortana, Windows 11 still collects diagnostic data. To maximize privacy according to Microsoft’s official documentation:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & security
2. Review each category (Location, Camera, Microphone, etc.)
3. Turn off permissions you don’t need
4. Under Diagnostics & feedback, select Required diagnostic data instead of Optional
5. Turn off Tailored experiences and Advertising ID

These settings work independently of Cortana and give you more control over what data Windows collects.

Alternative Solutions

If you still want voice assistant functionality without Cortana, consider:

Google Assistant on PC: Available through the Chrome browser or Android emulators, though not as deeply integrated with Windows.

Amazon Alexa app: Microsoft and Amazon partnered on integration, though this has been discontinued in recent Windows versions.

Third-party automation: Tools like Voice Attack or AutoHotkey let you create custom voice commands without sending data to cloud services.

Microsoft To Do: For reminders and task management, Microsoft’s dedicated To Do app offers better functionality than Cortana ever did.

Re-enabling Cortana If You Change Your Mind

Made a mistake or want Cortana back? Here’s how to reverse each method:

From PowerShell removal: Open Microsoft Store, search for “Cortana,” and reinstall it. Or run Windows Update and install any available updates, which often restore removed system apps.

From Group Policy: Return to gpedit.msc, find the Allow Cortana policy, set it to Not Configured, and restart.

From Registry: Navigate back to the registry key, delete the AllowCortana value, and restart.

From Settings: Simply go back to Settings > Apps, find Cortana, open Advanced options, and re-enable background permissions and startup.

Summary:

Removing Cortana from Windows 11 requires more steps than it should, but it’s absolutely doable. Here’s my recommended approach based on your situation:

For most users: Start with Method 1 (Windows Settings) to disable background activity and startup. This takes 2 minutes and solves 90% of concerns about resource usage and privacy.

For privacy-focused users: Combine Method 1 with Method 3 (Group Policy) or Method 4 (Registry) to ensure Cortana can’t reactivate itself. This provides the strongest protection against unwanted data collection.

For maximum disk space recovery: Use Method 2 (PowerShell) to completely uninstall the application. Accept that you may need to repeat this after major Windows updates.

For minimal technical risk: Stick to the Settings-based approach or hide Cortana from your taskbar. These methods can’t cause system instability and are easily reversed.

The good news is that Windows 11 search works excellently without Cortana. You’ll still find files, launch applications, and search settings instantly. You’re not losing critical functionality by removing Microsoft’s assistant.

Remember to export any important data (reminders, notes, tasks) from Cortana before removing it. Once gone, that information becomes inaccessible unless you reinstall the app.