Stop SearchHost.exe from opening WebView2 background processes

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garlin

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From Reddit:
Search/Windows Input Experience keeps running these unnecessary programs.
For the past week or two, task manager keeps showing this list of processes that runs constantly. I have no idea what they are. All I know is that "search" and "runtime broker" are normal and have always been there, but they keep starting and using large amounts of memory (80-400mb, it varies).

No matter what I do, (ending the WebView's one by one or ending the entire "search" process) these WebView processes keep starting up and running, using memory I do not want to be used. After ending them, it ether starts them right back up instantly, or after like 5-10 min or so.
Click to expand...

If you don't want SearchHost.exe to launch several WebView2 processes in the background, you can try one of two solutions:

1. Run ViveTool to disable SearchWebView2.
Code: 
vivetool.exe /disable /id:37926450

2. Add this reg file from the Registry screen.
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\8\1694661260]
"EnabledState"=dword:00000001
"EnabledStateOptions"=dword:00000000
"Variant"=dword:00000000
"VariantPayload"=dword:00000000
"VariantPayloadKind"=dword:00000000
 
garlin said:
From Reddit:
Search/Windows Input Experience keeps running these unnecessary programs.


If you don't want SearchHost.exe to launch several WebView2 processes in the background, you can try one of two solutions:

1. Run ViveTool to disable SearchWebView2.
Code: 
vivetool.exe /disable /id:37926450

2. Add this reg file from the Registry screen.
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\8\1694661260]
"EnabledState"=dword:00000001
"EnabledStateOptions"=dword:00000000
"Variant"=dword:00000000
"VariantPayload"=dword:00000000
"VariantPayloadKind"=dword:00000000
Click to expand...
It does not work on 25H2 annoying 6,7 msedgeview2.exe running.
 
I solved this problem by installing Open Shell and setting the DisableSearch policy. Note that this disables the search button as well—I've hidden the search button and use the search function built into Open Shell for quick launch searches, and File Explorer's search bar for file searches. While I was at it, I also blocked StartMenuExperienceHost.exe so the stock Start Menu wouldn't be running in the background, as it has been superseded on my system by Open Shell (note that this does create a DCOM launch error in the System log). To undo, set DisableSearch to 0, and replace /deny Everyone:RX with /remove Everyone and run the batch file (as Administrator) again:

Bash: 
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v DisableSearch /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Call :RunAs "icacls C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe /deny Everyone:RX", "NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller"
exit /b 0

:RunAs
    schtasks /create /sc On /tn dwsRunAs /tr "%~1" /ru "%~2" /f
    schtasks /run /i /tn dwsRunAs > NUL
    schtasks /delete /tn dwsRunAs /f > NUL
exit /b 0

For some reason, this forum is giving me the message "Oops, we ran into some problems", and I found it was blocking somthing on the first line under ":RunAs". Where you see "/sc On", you'll need to add "Start" (with no space) after "On" for the script to work. I can't even write "O n S t a r t" here without it blocking me from posting/editing. garlin is there a reason this phrase is blocked on the forum? Is there a better way to create a scheduled task for immediate running/deletion? (I don't need/want the task to run at startup, but last I checked, schtasks makes me put something there in order to create the task.)
 
Last edited:
Techie007 said:
I solved this problem by installing Open Shell and setting the DisableSearch policy. Note that this disables the search button as well—I've hidden the search button and use the search function built into Open Shell for quick launch searches, and File Explorer's search bar for file searches. While I was at it, I also blocked StartMenuExperienceHost.exe so the stock Start Menu wouldn't be running in the background, as it has been superseded on my system by Open Shell (note that this does create a DCOM launch error in the System log). To undo, set DisableSearch to 0, and replace /deny Everyone:RX with /remove Everyone and run the batch file (as Administrator) again:

Bash: 
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search" /v DisableSearch /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Call :RunAs "icacls C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe /deny Everyone:RX", "NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller"
exit /b 0

:RunAs
    schtasks /create /sc On /tn dwsRunAs /tr "%~1" /ru "%~2" /f
    schtasks /run /i /tn dwsRunAs > NUL
    schtasks /delete /tn dwsRunAs /f > NUL
exit /b 0

For some reason, this forum is giving me the message "Oops, we ran into some problems", and I found it was blocking somthing on the first line under ":RunAs". Where you see "/sc On", you'll need to add "Start" (with no space) after "On" for the script to work. I can't even write "O n S t a r t" here without it blocking me from posting/editing. garlin is there a reason this phrase is blocked on the forum? Is there a better way to create a scheduled task for immediate running/deletion? (I don't need/want the task to run at startup, but last I checked, schtasks makes me put something there in order to create the task.)
Click to expand...
I'm on win-x lite. If StartBackAll is active,mawsgeview2.exe s are gone but if I go back to regular start Menu, igot like 6 processes running in the background. Sht is annoying
 
May i ask what Windows search uses webview for? Maybe Microsoft store result that i have beden tryinh to remove desperately?

Btw what are the advantages of search using webview?
 
I tried both solutions on fresh installs.
First solution still works on 26200.7462 build, but second solution (reg) doesn't work at all for some reason.
What else does ViVeTool do in this case?
 
Czikotiko said:
First solution still works on 26200.7462 build, but second solution (reg) doesn't work at all for some reason.
What else does ViVeTool do in this case?
Click to expand...
In theory, it's the same effect because Vivetool triggers a registry write to make a feature ID change permanent. The reg file was created from a reg capture while running Vivetool.

But it's good to know Vivetool still works for you.
 
garlin said:
From Reddit:
Search/Windows Input Experience keeps running these unnecessary programs.


If you don't want SearchHost.exe to launch several WebView2 processes in the background, you can try one of two solutions:

1. Run ViveTool to disable SearchWebView2.
Code: 
vivetool.exe /disable /id:37926450

2. Add this reg file from the Registry screen.
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\8\1694661260]
"EnabledState"=dword:00000001
"EnabledStateOptions"=dword:00000000
"Variant"=dword:00000000
"VariantPayload"=dword:00000000
"VariantPayloadKind"=dword:00000000
Click to expand...
what are the disadvantages about this since it also disables new startmenu search UI?

BTW reg file works just need to reboot. did not solve microsoft store app results unfortunately...
 
Last edited:
The real problem here is MS intends to keep rewriting a number of existing Windows apps to use WebView2, for the UI layer. The spawned WV2 processes are idle when not in use, but they freak users out for reserving system resources.

You can try to stop some existing apps from spawning background processes with feature ID's, but the problem will grow over time as new apps or services get converted into WV2 clients. Which also means it will get harder to remove WV2, without losing Windows features.
 
Some apps should not need to access WV2, for exp I want and only need search to be local. I can use my browser to surf the web... BTW I don't know what I did but my startmenu doesn't show ads from Microsoft Store anymore :/ interesting maybe a bug and it will come back later
 
I have one app that uses WebView2 (Satisfactory Mod Manager) but when I quit the app all instances of msedgewebview2.exe are stopped. Why Microsoft's own software can't do this when nothing is using it?
 
crypticus said:
BTW reg file works just need to reboot.
Click to expand...

Did you run ViVe Tool before? If so, it will work.
If feature was enabled or disabled via ViVe tool first, then reg file works w/o problems, but the problem is with reg file added to iso via NTLite.
ISO made in NTLite, reg file added, fresh install - no effect.
I know, that sounds weird. I'm trying to figure out why it works when ViVe tool is used first, but I haven't had any luck so far.
 
Czikotiko said:
Did you run ViVe Tool before? If so, it will work.
If feature was enabled or disabled via ViVe tool first, then reg file works w/o problems, but the problem is with reg file added to iso via NTLite.
ISO made in NTLite, reg file added, fresh install - no effect.
I know, that sounds weird. I'm trying to figure out why it works when ViVe tool is used first, but I haven't had any luck so far.
Click to expand...
nope I tested on 3 laptops without vivetool, it worked. Maybe it works on live machine only
 
Anonymous Internet User said:
I have one app that uses WebView2 (Satisfactory Mod Manager) but when I quit the app all instances of msedgewebview2.exe are stopped. Why Microsoft's own software can't do this when nothing is using it?
Click to expand...
Microsoft search is a *always ready service* and they thought it would be better to make everything wait on standby without using any resources. I can't blame them but I don't want web results on my search.
 
crypticus said:
Some apps should not need to access WV2, for exp I want and only need search to be local. I can use my browser to surf the web... BTW I don't know what I did but my startmenu doesn't show ads from Microsoft Store anymore :/ interesting maybe a bug and it will come back later
Click to expand...
WebView isn't just for web apps, it's a development library that MS is heavily driving to corporate clients, as their primary platform to build in-house applications. It's like how the Electron JS platform started on a browser, but later Electron apps are standalone.

At the same time, the SearchHost functionality added Store app results but that would have happened anything without converting to WV2.
 
Anybody please confirm which one is working. Vivetool? Registry method didn't work at all. I'm on win-xlite 11 which has startallback as a startmenu. So with startallback, not single msedgewebview2 is active which is cool. Hoewever, I'm trying to get back to the stock start menu but as soon as I disable StartAllBack (which enables the stock start menu), all edgeview proceeses are back. I'm so sick of it. I dont want no damn web result on my startmenu. I only want local search result
 
It might be about your custom build, for me/us at W11 25H2 26200.7462 it worked with reg method, on 3 live machines.
 
Czikotiko said:
(...) but the problem is with reg file added to iso via NTLite.
Click to expand...

Finally figured it out.
In my case, enabling "Legacy Setup" option in NTLite was causing issue with this reg file.
Removed it from my preset, made new iso and now it works properly.
 
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