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Today, in this guide we will discuss about how to remove Pride Flag from search bar in Windows. For Pride Month, Microsoft has released app themes and backgrounds that honor the different kinds of people who are LGBTQIA+. To join in on your Mac, iOS, or Android device, here’s how to turn on these themes. Microsoft added the Pride flag to the taskbar in Windows 11 to show support for LGBTQ+ people. There isn’t a special key or switch that will get rid of the Pride flag on your taskbar.
To get rid of it, you might need to turn off the News and Interests feature and remove widgets. During Pride Month, Pride Flags are added to the Windows 11 search bar. In this case, it will stay in the search bar until the end of the month. But there is a bug that makes it so the flag doesn’t always go away on its own. This guide will show you how to remove Pride Flag from search bar in Windows.
How to remove Pride Flag from search bar in Windows

- Right-click on a blank spot on the taskbar. There will be a context menu that shows different taskbar-related options.
- Click on “Taskbar settings” to get to the options for changing how the taskbar looks.
- In the Taskbar Settings page, uncheck the box next to Widgets. The Widget will no longer appear.
- You can get rid of the Pride flag from your Windows search bar while also exploring other customization options, or you can just stop Widgets from running for now.
- You can change the color schemes, the icons in the taskbar, and the layout of the search bar in Windows to make your desktop look the way you want it to.
How to Temporarily Remove Widgets
- Press the Windows key and type “cmd” in the search bar.
- Find “Command Prompt” in the search results. Right-click on it and choose “Run as administrator” to open the command prompt with more rights.
- Type “taskkill /f /im sidebar.exe” into the command prompt window and press Enter.
- When you run this command, the Windows Desktop Gadgets service will stop. This service is what runs the widgets on your desktop.
- To make the widgets work again, open the Command Prompt and type the following to start the Windows Desktop Gadgets service:
first run sidebar.exe
Why you might want to remove the Pride Flag from the search bar
- Neutrality: Some people and groups say that search engines and other online platforms should try to take on an impartial and neutral look. They think that showing certain flags or symbols, like the Pride Flag, could be seen as political or ideological, which might not fit with the platform’s goal of having a wide range of users.
- Trying to Stay Out of Trouble: Some symbols, like the Pride Flag, can cause trouble or disagreement in some places or among some community members. Getting rid of these kinds of symbols can be an attempt to avoid problems or backlash.
- Choice: Some platforms may let users change how the interface looks and pick which flags or symbols they see. Taking down the Pride Flag could be a way to give users a more personalized experience while still respecting their choices.
- Focus on Core Functions: Some people say that search engines and other online platforms should focus on their core functions, like giving information and search results, instead of showing flags or symbols that have nothing to do with their main purpose.
- Legal or Regulatory Considerations: In some places or because of certain rules, display of certain symbols or flags may be limited or required by law. Taking down the Pride Flag might be the right thing to do legally.
Alternative ways to celebrate Pride
- Educational Workshops: Host or attend workshops on LGBTQ+ history, rights, and issues to deepen your understanding and raise awareness.
- Art and Creativity: Express your support through art, whether it’s painting, drawing, or creating digital designs that celebrate diversity and inclusivity.
- Film Screenings: Organize screenings of LGBTQ+ films and documentaries, followed by discussions to promote dialogue and understanding.
- Read and Share: Share LGBTQ+ literature, books, and articles with friends and family to promote empathy and understanding.
- Support LGBTQ+ Businesses: Make a point to shop at LGBTQ+-owned businesses and restaurants in your community.
- Volunteer: Offer your time and skills to LGBTQ+ organizations and nonprofits. Many of them need volunteers for various roles.
- Donate: Contribute to LGBTQ+ charities and organizations that are working to advance LGBTQ+ rights and well-being.
Conclusion
You could also read our in-depth review of the best Windows 11 themes and skins that you can get for free and use to make your computer your own. A lot of people who use Windows 11 say they saw the Pride flag on their taskbar. The Pride flag stands for the LGBTQ+ community. There have been arguments about the addition, and some users don’t want it. So, this article will talk about how to get rid of the Pride flag on the Windows 11 search bar.
Questions and Answers
You can get to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Cloud Content from the left pane. Select the policy that says “Turn off all Windows spotlight features” and double-click it in the right pane.
You can right-click on an empty spot on the taskbar and choose “Taskbar settings” or press and hold the space. In the corner of the Taskbar, below the icons: For any icons you want to see on the taskbar, click “On.” For any icons on the taskbar that you don’t want to see, click “Off.”
You can get to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Cloud Content from the left pane. Select the policy that says “Turn off all Windows spotlight features” and double-click it in the right pane. If you choose “Enabled,” spotlight pictures will show up on the lock screen.
The window search, task view, chat, and widgets icons can be taken off the task bar to make room. If you right-click on the task bar, you can change how it looks. These switches can be found under “task bar items.” They let you turn off the search task view and chat icons.