What is this and how can I get rid of it?

This window frequently opens up on top of what I'm doing. When it opens nothing shows in the taskbar. I tried using Task Manager to find out what it is but as soon as I click anything it goes away. I thought it might be something to do with Windows Copilot because of the logo but I have copilot turned off in group policy editor.
What is it and how can I get rid of it?

Hello @Sidecar Bob and welcome to ElevenForum.

I'm guessing it's either Copilot or Widgets. I see both in your screen shot.
There's tutorials below, for removing either.


You can get rid of most Windows Aps, easily, with REVO Uninstaller (free)
After REVO uninstalls something, it offers to "scan for leftovers".
Do that, and delete all it finds.




For example.... I removed almost all the Windows Apps.
I don't use them, so I don't need them.







If available in the tutorial... I recommend using the registry patches for disabling or enabling things.
Well... I generally try the tweaks in this order... reg patch, then a command... and last would be group policy.
The reg patches seem easiest and seem to work best.

Most of the time, you need to reboot to apply the changes.

It looks like a combo of Windows search, copilot & widgets. I cannot replicate.

How to disable web search when searching your computer for something...


This works for Windows 11 as well.



Here's more stuff that might come in handy...








And here's some unrelated stuff that might come in handy. I call it: NEW Guy Stuff.








@Sidecar Bob
Pretty much everything you could ever want to do is in, or will be in, the tutorials.

Brink said:

Turn On or Off Search online and include web results in Windows 10

How to Turn On or Off Search online and include web results from Bing in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Click to expand...

Brink said:

It'll still work in W11, but:

1) Have to be admin.
2) Only affects current user.
3) It also disables search box suggestions (aka: recent searches) in File Explorer.

Click to expand...

Sidecar Bob said:

This window frequently opens up on top of what I'm doing. When it opens nothing shows in the taskbar. I tried using Task Manager to find out what it is but as soon as I click anything it goes away. I thought it might be something to do with Windows Copilot because of the logo but I have copilot turned off in group policy editor.
What is it and how can I get rid of it?

Click to expand...

That's Windows Search. You'll get it if you click on Search in the taskbar. You'll also get it if you press WinKey+S. Press the Esc key and it will close.

Sorry I didn't reply sooner but I did not receive any email notifications. I have checked my profile and they are turned on and my email address is correct. And there is nothing in my spam folder.

Bree said:

That's Windows Search. You'll get it if you click on Search in the taskbar. You'll also get it if you press WinKey+S. Press the Esc key and it will close.

Click to expand...

Windows Search. Interesting. There is no Search button in my taskbar (I always turn garbage like that off) and I can't imagine how I could be pressing Win+S. but the image you posted is definitely what I am seeing. At least I know what it is now.

Re everything else people have suggested, I'll look at all of it closer later on.

I think I may have found a solution for you, if you bring that window up,click the three dots in the upper right corner,goto search settings,under there you should get a window come up for privacy and security,scroll down to more settings and turn off show search highlights,that should get rid of the ads etc!

OK, I've turned off Shoe search Highlights in More Settings. I also clicked Windows privacy options under Related settings and turned off Show me suggested content in the Settings app and Show me notifications in the Settings app.
We'll see if that helps.