Turn off Help and Support Center Microsoft Knowledge Base search

Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2003, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016, WindowsVista, WindowsXP

This policy setting specifies whether users can perform a Microsoft Knowledge Base search from the Help and Support Center. The Knowledge Base is an online source of technical support information and self-help tools for Microsoft products, and is searched as part of all Help and Support Center searches with the default search options. If you enable this policy setting, it removes the Knowledge Base section from the Help and Support Center "Set search options" page, and only Help content on the local computer is searched. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the Knowledge Base is searched if the user has a connection to the Internet and has not disabled the Knowledge Base search from the Search Options page.

This policy has no additional user input fields.

• Computer
  Turn off access to all Windows Update features

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems, Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1, or Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
• User
  Turn off access to the Store

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Turn off access to the Store

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Turn off Automatic Root Certificates Update

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems with SP1 or Windows XP Professional with SP2
• Computer
  Turn off downloading of print drivers over HTTP

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems with SP1 or Windows XP Professional with SP2
• User
  Turn off downloading of print drivers over HTTP

  At least Windows XP Professional with SP2
• Computer
  Turn off Event Viewer "Events.asp" links

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems with SP1 or Windows XP Professional with SP2
• Computer
  Turn off Help and Support Center "Did you know?" content

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems with SP1 or Windows XP Professional with SP2
• User
  Turn off Help Experience Improvement Program

  At least Windows Vista
• User
  Turn off Help Ratings

  At least Windows Vista
• Computer
  Turn off Internet Connection Wizard if URL connection is referring to Microsoft.com

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems with SP1 or Windows XP Professional with SP2
• User
  Turn off Internet download for Web publishing and online ordering wizards

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2