How to Remove or Collapse the Tell Me Search Box in Office 2019
Question details
The user wants to hide or permanently remove the 'Tell me what you want to do' search box located at the top of Office 2019 applications to reduce visual clutter.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to free up screen space on the application ribbon by removing the prominent Microsoft Search box in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Observed behavior
- The Microsoft Search box permanently displays at the top of the Office application window, and there is no obvious way to disable or hide it completely.
Please note that Microsoft Office 2019 does not allow users to permanently remove or completely disable the Tell Me search box. However, you can adjust the application settings to collapse it into a much smaller icon, saving valuable space on your screen.
Collapse the Microsoft Search Box by Default
While you cannot completely remove the search box, you can minimize it into a smaller magnifying glass icon to free up space on your application ribbon.
This built-in setting minimizes the visual impact of the search bar without removing its functionality. Once collapsed, it will only expand when you actively click on the magnifying glass icon to search for a tool or command.
Launch Microsoft Excel, Word, or PowerPoint 2019 and open any blank or existing document.
Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the window, then select 'Options' located at the very bottom of the left-hand menu.
In the Options dialog box that appears, ensure that the 'General' tab is selected on the left pane.
Scroll down to the 'User Interface options' section and check the box labeled 'Collapse the Microsoft Search box by default'.
Click 'OK' at the bottom of the dialog box to save your settings. The large search box will instantly shrink into a small magnifying glass icon.
Switch to WPS Office for a Cleaner, Distraction-Free Workspace
If you find the Microsoft Office 2019 interface cluttered with unremovable search boxes and ribbons, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, clean, and highly customizable tabbed workspace while remaining completely free and natively compatible with your existing files.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your computer.
- 3. Open Your Files Seamlessly: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Office documents without worrying about formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I completely disable the Microsoft Search feature using the Registry Editor?
No, modifying the Windows Registry to disable Microsoft Search in Office 2019 is not officially supported and will not remove the search bar from the user interface. The safest and most effective approach is to collapse it via the General Options menu.
Why does the Tell Me search box take up so much space in Office 2019?
Microsoft designed the 'Tell me what you want to do' box as a prominent accessibility feature to help users quickly find tools, actions, and help articles without navigating complex ribbon menus. However, it can consume valuable title bar space on smaller monitors.
Does collapsing the search box in Excel also collapse it in Word?
Not necessarily. While some user preferences sync across the Office suite, the interface options often apply on a per-app basis. You may need to manually enable the 'Collapse the Microsoft Search box by default' setting in each individual application.
Can I move the Tell Me search box to a different location on the screen?
No, the position of the Microsoft Search box is fixed to the title bar or the top of the ribbon area in Office 2019. It cannot be dragged or relocated to a different part of the application window.
