Windows 10 recently celebrated its first anniverary with a major update, bringing a huge heap of tweaks and improvements to the popular operating system. One of the most controversial updates is to Cortana – Microsoft's digital assistant, which is installed and activated by default on Windows 10 computers.
While many people – including our own Agent Bishop– love using Cortana to search the internet, schedule calendar appointments and check the weather, some aren't impressed by the 'always-on' nature of the software.
As with any good assistant, Cortana works best when it can hear you asking it a question so it can respond immediately – but not everyone likes to be listened to all the time, and the process for turning Cortana off can be confusing to new users.
What's new in the Anniversary Update?
In short, quite a lot has changed with the arrival of the latest update to Windows 10.
We've seen a big improvement to Cortana and its related services – meaning improved search results, better responses to natural text and voice searches, and quicker access to your files and folders through the search box in the Start Menu.
Plus, Windows 10 will now have better access to your Android or Windows Phone handsets if have the Cortana app installed, meaning you can check your smartphone's battery level and notifications on your Windows 10 computer.
Microsoft's Edge browser also had a makeover, with features like tab pinning, extension support and even swipe navigation for touchscreen devices being added to the native Windows browser. Possibly the best feature to arrive with the new update, though, is the improved security tools – which can allow users to unlock their computers using facial recognition, fingerprint ID or even with a paired device like a smart watch.
What is Cortana?
As of the latest update, Cortana is now more than just the voice-activated assistant built into Windows 10. It's also the new name for Bing's web search, as well as the search function built into Windows. When you type into the search box in your Start Menu, you're using Cortana!
The two sides of Cortana work independently from each other, yet they share the same name. The side of Cortana which manages your internet and local searches is a 'generic' one which doesn't need your Microsoft account details – whereas the digital assistant aspect needs access to your Microsoft account in order to perform more personal tasks, like setting reminders, tracking flights, sending emails and the like.
In order to have all the features of Cortana working, you'll need to have linked your Microsoft account to the Cortana service. This is usually something you'll agree to during the initial setup of your computer or laptop – but it can actually be linked at any time.
If you do have privacy or other concerns, you can log out of Cortana at any time. You can also wipe your web, Cortana, search and device history to clear out anything you don't want remembered. But what if you want to get rid of Cortana and its eager listening habits altogether?
How to turn off Cortana during setup
During the update to the Anniversary Edition of Windows 10, your computer will restart. When it powers up again, you'll see a blue setup screen like the one above.
During this new setup, you'll be asked to agree to a few new terms and conditions, and you'll be given the option to let Microsoft choose their preferred "Express" settings for your computer.
But to take back some control over the process, you'll need to keep an eye out for the Customise settings link, which you should see during the first couple of pages of the setup.
After clicking on this, you'll be asked which tools and features you'd like to use. Make sure to deselect Cortana when asked, then click the Next and Continue buttons to complete the update.
Turning off Cortana if you've already updated
Because Cortana is now the new name for the standard Windows search tools, it can be pretty hard to know which bits to disable and which bits to leave. Follow the steps below to cut out some of the more invasive things Cortana has access to, and retain your privacy:
- Open Cortana by clicking the icon on your task bar, or by opening your Start Menu and typing in 'Cortana', then clicking on the result.
- Once Cortana is open, click the settings icon in the bottom-left corner. This looks like a cog or gear.
- Now that Cortana's settings are visible, click each of the toggle switches to turn them off. This prevents Cortana from sharing your search histories and syncing notifications, as well as a couple of other things.
If you use Cortana to search after disabling these settings, your data may still be sent to Microsoft but –won't be saved and shared across your devices.
- Next, we need to clear out any data Cortana has already stored. In Cortana's settings menu, click Change what Cortana knows about me in the cloud. At the bottom of this new information page you'll see a button marked Clear. Click this button to wipe Cortana's history of you as a user.
- To make sure Cortana won't be saving more data about you in future, we need to make one more change. Open your Start menu and click on the Settings icon, which again looks like a cog or a gear.
- Choose the Speech, inking, & typing option from the left, then click Stop getting to know me to stop Cortana from learning about your browsing and search habits.
That's all you need to know about Cortana and the anniversary update so far – but keep your eyes peeled for more news on Microsoft's operating system and any new features they add in the future. If you have your own tips on dealing with Cortana, why not leave them in the comments section below!