In a recent update pushed by Microsoft to Windows, users on Internet Explorer 11 have noticed a new tiny addition: the Bing search box in new tabs. But like in Google Chrome’s New Tab, it doesn’t do much, it only “teaches” you to use the address bar to search.
What’s interesting is that it only works with Bing search, changing the default search engine to, let’s say, Google, you’ll get the traditional New Tab with your Frequent links and access to different open tabs you may have open on different Windows devices.
The instructions to remove the Bing search box from a new tab in Internet Explorer 11 are straightforward. Basically you have two ways that accomplish the same thing, just follow the steps below:
How to remove Bing from New Tab
The first way to remove the Bing search box is by setting Google as your default search engine.
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While in Internet Explorer 11 and from the Tools menu, select Manage Add-ons.
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Navigate to Search Providers, if you don’t have Google (or other search engine) in the list, from the bottom-left corner click “Find more search provider” and include Google.
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From the Manage Add-ons, select your search engine of choice and click Set as default from bottom-right corner. That’s it, now open a New Tab in IE11 and you shouldn’t see the Bing box anymore.
The alternative way to go removing the Bing search box in new tabs is by disabling search from the address bar. But keep in mind that after you do this, you’ll actually have to go to Google or Bing, or other search engine web page, to do a search.
To do this repeat step one from the instructions shown above and uncheck the “Search in the address bar and the search box the new tab page”. Then click Close to finish.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].