Set-SearchConfig

Windows: Configures Windows Search and Cortana settings

Script

#Requires -Version 5.1

[CmdletBinding()]
Param (
    [bool]$AllowCortana,

    [bool]$AllowLocation,

    [bool]$DisableWebSearch,

    [string]$ComputerName = $env:COMPUTERNAME,

    [pscredential]$Credential
)

Process {
    try {
        $scriptBlock = {
            Param($Cortana, $Location, $Web, $BoundParams)
            $regPath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search"
            if (-not (Test-Path $regPath)) {
                New-Item -Path $regPath -Force | Out-Null
            }
            
            if ($BoundParams.ContainsKey('AllowCortana')) {
                $val = if ($Cortana) { 1 } else { 0 }
                Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "AllowCortana" -Value $val -Force -ErrorAction Stop
            }
            if ($BoundParams.ContainsKey('AllowLocation')) {
                $val = if ($Location) { 1 } else { 0 }
                Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "AllowSearchToUseLocation" -Value $val -Force -ErrorAction Stop
            }
            if ($BoundParams.ContainsKey('DisableWebSearch')) {
                $val = if ($Web) { 1 } else { 0 }
                Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "DisableWebSearch" -Value $val -Force -ErrorAction Stop
            }
        }

        if ($ComputerName -ne $env:COMPUTERNAME) {
            $invokeParams = @{
                'ComputerName' = $ComputerName
                'ScriptBlock'  = $scriptBlock
                'ArgumentList' = @($AllowCortana, $AllowLocation, $DisableWebSearch, $PSBoundParameters)
                'ErrorAction'  = 'Stop'
            }
            if ($null -ne $Credential) {
                $invokeParams.Add('Credential', $Credential)
            }

            Invoke-Command @invokeParams
        }
        else {
            &$scriptBlock -Cortana $AllowCortana -Location $AllowLocation -Web $DisableWebSearch -BoundParams $PSBoundParameters
        }

        $result = [PSCustomObject]@{
            ComputerName = $ComputerName
            Action       = "SearchConfigured"
            Status       = "Success"
            Timestamp    = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss"
        }

        Write-Output $result
    }
    catch {
        throw
    }
}

Customize

AllowCortana bool

If set, enables Cortana search.

AllowLocation bool

If set, allows search and Cortana to use location data.

DisableWebSearch bool

If set, disables web results in Windows Search.

ComputerName string

Specifies the name of the target computer. Defaults to the local computer.

env string

Credential pscredential

Specifies a PSCredential object for remote connection.