How to change default Cortana’s taskbar search box text in Windows 10

Here's how you can customize Cortana's search box text with a simple Registry tweak.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
Pureinfotech Logo
Windows 10 desktop

On the leak version of Windows 10 (build 9901), you no longer have to force the search box to appear in the taskbar, which is also part of the Cortana integration. The default text reads “Search the Web and Windows” and even though there is nothing wrong with the wording, there is a registry tweak you can make to change the default text in the search box.

By any means this tweak makes you more productive, but it’s just about the knowing that you can do it and you can have a more unique desktop. Follow the steps below to make it all work.

How to change Cortana default search box text

  1. Open the Start menu, do a search for regedit, press Enter and launch Registry as an administrator.

  2. Browse the following path:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search

  3. Right-click on an empty space, select New, String Value, and name it SearchEditBoxText.

    SearchEditBoxText

  4. Double-click SearchEditBoxText and enter the text you want to appear in the search box. For example, “Search with Cortana”.

  5. Here is the before settings:

    Default search box text

  6. And after the tweak we made:

    Custom search box taskbar text on Windows 10

Important: Changing settings on the Windows Registry can cause problems in your system. Only edit the registry if you know what you’re doing. I assume, you’ll backup your system before modifying anything. You’ve been warned!

The previous step is all you have to do, now restart your computer and sign back in to see taskbar with a search box including custom text. To revert the changes, simply go back to the registry path on step 2 and delete the SearchEditBoxText String Value you created.

Source @Whistler4Ever

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

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].