Windows Search Privacy: Local, Cloud, and Web Results
Local file indexing, cloud-account results, and web search are different parts of Windows Search. Decide which source you want to change before disabling a service that also helps find your own files.
On this page
Classify the result you want to change
| Result type | Review |
|---|---|
| A document stored on the PC | Local indexing scope and excluded folders. |
| An item in a signed-in cloud account | The account and available cloud-content search controls. |
| A web suggestion or result | The Windows Search web experience and browser preferences. |
Test a narrower search configuration
- Open Searching Windows in Settings and note the current indexing scope.
- Choose a nonessential folder for a scope test rather than disabling all local indexing.
- Search for a known local file, then separately test the cloud or web result you are evaluating.
- Keep a record of the specific scope change so you can restore it if finding your files becomes harder.
Do not equate local indexing with cloud upload
Microsoft’s current documentation distinguishes local indexing, including semantic indexing on supported PCs, from cloud and web result sources. Evaluate each feature using its documentation. A searchable local file does not by itself show that the file has been uploaded.
Questions and answers
Will excluding a folder delete it?
The intended task is changing search scope, not deleting files. Confirm the specific control before making the change.
Should I disable the Search service to remove cloud results?
Start with the relevant source controls. Disabling an entire service can affect unrelated local search functionality.