How to Remove the IE7 Search Bar

by Deborah Cohn

Overview

Internet Explorer 7 comes with a standard default search bar. The search bar can be set to whatever search engine you want to use, including Google, Yahoo and MSN. However, if you already have a third party search bar installed, the IE7 bar can take up unnecessary space on your browser. There is no option to disable or remove the IE search bar, but if you want it to disappear, it's a simple process, as long as you feel comfortable modifying the registry.

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Step 1

Open Notepad and copy the following key into a new page: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Infodelivery\Restrictions]"NoSearchBox"=dword:00000001
Step 2

Go to the "Start" button and click on "Run."
Step 3

Type "regedit" in the window, then click "OK." This will open the registry editor.
Step 4

Navigate to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Infodelivery\Restrictions
Step 5

Replace the current key with the key from Notepad by copying the Notepad key and pasting it over the old registry key.
Step 6

If prompted, you may have to restart your computer to save the change.

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Before you edit the registry, make sure you save all your data in case something goes wrong.
Before you edit the registry, make sure you save all your data in case something goes wrong.