Allow Cloud Search
This device-wide policy value determines whether Windows Search and Cortana may search cloud sources such as OneDrive and SharePoint.
since 0.9.8.11
Purpose
Show registry keys (1)
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search\AllowCloudSearch
This device-wide policy value determines whether Windows Search and Cortana may search cloud sources such as OneDrive and SharePoint.
A value of 0 prevents cloud search, while 1 allows it. Microsoft documents 1 as the policy default. The setting controls the inclusion of cloud sources; local search indexing and general web search are governed by separate policies.
Notes
Security
When cloud search is allowed and used, Microsoft Search processes the query to find matching content in the available cloud sources. The policy does not grant additional access rights: search results can contain only content that the user is already permitted to access. Existing OneDrive and SharePoint permissions remain unchanged.
Possible side effects
With a value of 0, content from the affected cloud sources no longer appears in the corresponding Windows Search or Cortana results. Searches can therefore appear incomplete when required files or other content are stored exclusively in OneDrive or SharePoint.
Notes
This is a device-scoped policy and therefore applies across the computer.
The setting only permits or blocks cloud search. The availability of results still depends on reachable cloud sources and the signed-in user's permissions.
Microsoft documentation
Microsoft Learn: Search Policy CSP – AllowCloudSearch
Microsoft Learn: Overview of Microsoft Search