Managing distractions on Windows devices is essential for enterprise productivity. Using Microsoft Intune’s Settings catalog, you can easily enforce the following on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices: 

• Disable web results in Start Menu search 
• Hide the search box from the taskbar 
• Remove the News and Interests (Weather) widget 

This guide walks you through step-by-step instructions using the Settings catalog — a modern and easier way to configure Windows settings in Intune without needing custom OMA-URI or scripts. 

Prerequisites 

Ensure the following before you begin: 

• Microsoft Intune (Endpoint Manager) Admin access. 
• Windows 10 (1909 or later) or Windows 11 devices enrolled. 
• Devices are Microsoft Entra ID-joined or Hybrid joined. 

A. Disable Web Search in Start Menu (Bing + Web Search) 

Steps to Disable Web Search via Settings Catalog: 

1. Go to https://intune.microsoft.com 
2. Navigate to:
    
   
   • Devices → Configuration profiles → + Create → New Policy
     
     
3. Platform:
    
   • Windows 10 and later 
4. Profile Type:
    
   • Settings catalog 
     
     
5. Click Create 
   
   
6. Name your profile:
    
   • Disable Web Search, Search Box & Weather Widget 
     
     
7. Configure settings & values:
    
   • Click + Add settings 
   • In the Search bar, type: search 
   • Select Administrative Templates/Start Menu and Taskbar and Search 
     
     
   • Set the value: 

B. Hide Search Box in Taskbar 

Steps to Hide Taskbar Search Box via Settings Catalog: 

1. In the Settings picker:
    
   • Search for Configure Search 
   • Select Search 
     
     
2. Set the value: 

C. Remove Weather Widget (News and Interests) 

Steps to Remove News & Interests Widget 

1. In the Settings picker:
    
   • Search for news 
   • Select the setting: Feeds 
     
     
2. Set the value: 

8.  Assign the profile to device groups, then click Next → Create. 

Post-Deployment Tips 

1. These settings apply at next user sign-in or after a device restart. 
2. Use Device > Configuration profiles > [Profile] > Device status to monitor deployment. 
3. Combine all settings into a single profile if desired, or use per-feature granularity for flexibility. 

Summary 

1. Disabled Bing/web search in Start Menu 
2. Hidden the search box from the taskbar 
3. Removed the distracting weather widget 

Final Recommendation 

1. Always test policies on a pilot group before full deployment. 
2. Use filters to apply policies only to specific OS versions or device models. 
3. Document all profile names and assignment scopes for future audits.