Prevent Unwanted Bing Installation in Microsoft 365: A Step-by-Step Guide

Table of Contents

• Understanding Microsoft Search in Bing¶
• Strategies to Block Bing Search Installation in Microsoft 365¶
• Navigating Microsoft’s Approach¶

Microsoft has recently introduced an update for Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365 ProPlus) that has raised some eyebrows among users and IT administrators alike. This update includes an extension designed for Google Chrome, which, upon installation, changes the default search engine to Microsoft Bing. While Microsoft positions this as a feature to enhance enterprise search capabilities, many organizations may prefer to control when and how such changes are implemented. This article provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to preventing the automatic installation of the Bing search extension in Microsoft 365 environments. We will also cover methods to revert the changes should the extension be installed inadvertently.

Understanding Microsoft Search in Bing¶

Before diving into the prevention methods, it’s crucial to understand the purpose behind Microsoft Search in Bing. This enterprise search solution is designed to enhance productivity for organizations using Microsoft 365. It allows users to access work-related information contextually, drawing data from various Microsoft 365 services such as SharePoint, OneDrive for Business, and Exchange, in addition to traditional web searches.

Microsoft Search utilizes Microsoft Graph to provide a personalized and relevant search experience within an organization. Users can quickly locate colleagues, find office locations, retrieve documents, and access other internal resources directly from their browser’s search bar. More detailed information about Microsoft Search in Bing can be found on the Microsoft Office Blog.

It is important to note that the Bing search extension will not be installed if Bing is already set as the default search engine in Chrome. This update is primarily targeted at organizations that are not currently using Bing as their default search engine but are utilizing Microsoft 365 services. While Microsoft argues that this integration offers benefits for enterprise users, organizations may have valid reasons to prevent this automatic deployment, and Microsoft provides options to manage this installation.

Strategies to Block Bing Search Installation in Microsoft 365¶

Managing the deployment of the Bing search extension involves several approaches, depending on your organization’s infrastructure and preferences. These strategies range from temporary workarounds to more permanent exclusion methods and post-installation remedies. Here are the primary methods to consider:

1. Temporarily Delay the Update
2. Exclude Bing Search Installation During Microsoft 365 Deployment or Update
3. Change Default Search Engine Post-Installation
4. Remove the Bing Search Extension

The last two options are relevant if the Bing extension has already been installed and you need to revert the changes.

1] Temporarily Delay the Update¶

For organizations that prefer to manage updates on their own schedule, a temporary measure is to delay the rollout of Microsoft 365 updates. By pausing or carefully scheduling updates, IT administrators can gain time to prepare and implement more permanent solutions for managing the Bing search extension deployment. This approach, however, is only a temporary fix and needs to be followed by a more proactive strategy to manage the extension in the long run.

2] Exclude Bing Search Installation During Microsoft 365 Deployment or Update¶

The most effective way to prevent the unwanted installation of the Bing search extension is to exclude it during the initial deployment or update process of Microsoft 365. This can be achieved using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (formerly SCCM) or Microsoft Intune, leveraging the Office Deployment Tool or Group Policy settings.

Using Office Deployment Tool and XML Configuration¶

The Office Deployment Tool (ODT) allows for customized installations of Microsoft 365 Apps. By configuring an XML file, administrators can specify which components to include or exclude during installation. To prevent the Bing search extension from being installed, you need to modify your ODT configuration XML file.

Here is an example of how to exclude the Bing extension in your configuration XML:

<Configuration>
  <Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="Current">
    <Product ID="O365ProPlusRetail">
      <Language ID="en-us" />
      <ExcludeApp ID="Bing" />
    </Product>
  </Add>
  <Display Level="None" AcceptEULA="TRUE" />
</Configuration>

In this XML configuration:

• <ExcludeApp ID="Bing" /> is the key line that explicitly excludes the Bing search extension from being installed.
• OfficeClientEdition="64" specifies the 64-bit version of Office. Adjust as necessary for your environment.
• Channel="Current" indicates the update channel. Choose the channel appropriate for your organization (e.g., Current, Monthly Enterprise, Semi-Annual Enterprise).
• Product ID="O365ProPlusRetail" defines the Microsoft 365 product suite. Modify if you are using a different suite.
• <Language ID="en-us" /> sets the language. Change as needed.
• <Display Level="None" AcceptEULA="TRUE" /> are standard settings for silent installations.

By deploying Microsoft 365 Apps using this configured XML file with the Office Deployment Tool, you can ensure that the Bing search extension is not installed as part of the Office suite.

Using Group Policy¶

Group Policy provides another robust method to manage settings across an Active Directory domain environment. Microsoft provides Administrative Templates (ADMX/ADML files) for Office that include policies to control the installation of the Bing search extension.

To use Group Policy:

1. Download Administrative Templates: Obtain the latest Administrative Templates for Office from the Microsoft Download Center.
2. Import ADMX/ADML Files: Copy the ADMX files to your Central Store (or PolicyDefinitions folder on individual machines) and the ADML files to the corresponding language folder within PolicyDefinitions.
3. Open Group Policy Management: Launch the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and edit an existing Group Policy Object (GPO) or create a new one that applies to the relevant organizational units (OUs) containing user or computer accounts.
4. Navigate to Policy Setting: In the Group Policy Management Editor, navigate to: Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) > Updates. (Note: The exact path might vary slightly depending on your Office version, but it’s usually under Microsoft Office [Year] (Machine) > Updates).
5. Locate “Don’t install extension for Microsoft Search in Bing”: Find the policy setting named “Don’t install extension for Microsoft Search in Bing”.
6. Enable the Policy: Double-click on the policy setting, choose “Enabled”, and click “OK”.

Enabling this Group Policy setting will prevent the Bing search extension from being installed on machines within the scope of the GPO. Ensure that the GPO is linked to the correct OUs and that Group Policy updates are applied to the client machines.

Using Microsoft Intune¶

For organizations using Microsoft Intune for endpoint management, configuration profiles can be used to control the Bing search extension installation. Intune allows you to deploy configuration policies to devices, including settings equivalent to Group Policy.

To configure this in Intune:

1. Create a Configuration Profile: In the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center, navigate to Devices > Configuration profiles > Create profile.
2. Choose Platform and Profile type: Select “Windows 10 and later” as the platform and “Settings catalog” as the profile type.
3. Name the Profile: Provide a descriptive name for the profile, such as “Block Bing Search Extension Installation”.
4. Add Settings: In the “Settings catalog”, search for “Don’t install extension for Microsoft Search in Bing”.
5. Configure the Setting: Select the setting and set it to “Enabled”.
6. Assign the Profile: Assign the profile to groups of users or devices that you want to prevent from installing the Bing search extension.
7. Review and Create: Review your settings and click “Create” to deploy the profile.

Intune will apply this configuration profile to the assigned devices, ensuring that the Bing search extension is not installed during Microsoft 365 updates.

3] Change Default Search Engine Post-Installation¶

If the Bing search extension has already been installed, users can manually change the default search engine back to their preferred choice within Chrome settings. This is a user-level setting and needs to be done on each individual machine.

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To change the default search engine in Chrome:

1. Open Chrome Settings: In Chrome, click on the three vertical dots in the top right corner to open the menu, and then select “Settings”.
2. Navigate to Search engine: In the left-hand menu, click on “Search engine”.
3. Choose Default Search Engine: Under “Search engine used in the address bar”, click the dropdown menu and select your preferred search engine (e.g., Google, DuckDuckGo, etc.).

After changing this setting, Chrome will use the selected search engine for address bar searches. However, the Bing extension itself might still be installed. For complete removal, follow the steps in the next section.

4] Remove the Bing Search Extension¶

To completely remove the Bing search extension and prevent it from being reinstalled with future updates, you need to uninstall the associated software package. This can be done through the Control Panel or using the Command Prompt. Administrative privileges are required for these methods.

Method 1: Using Control Panel¶

1. Open Control Panel: Click on the Start Menu, type “Control Panel”, and open the Control Panel application.
2. Navigate to Programs and Features: In Control Panel, click on “Programs” and then “Programs and Features”. (In Category view, click “Uninstall a program” under Programs).
3. Locate DefaultPackPC: In the list of installed programs, find “DefaultPackPC”.
4. Uninstall: Select “DefaultPackPC” and click “Uninstall”. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
5. Alternative via Windows Settings: Alternatively, you can go to Windows Settings by pressing Win + I, then navigate to Apps > Apps & features. Locate “DefaultPackPC” in the list, click on it, and select “Uninstall”.

Uninstalling “DefaultPackPC” will remove the Bing search extension and revert the default search engine setting if it was changed by the extension.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt¶

For IT administrators who need to remove the extension from multiple computers or prefer command-line methods, the Command Prompt provides a quick solution.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Click on the Start Menu, type “cmd”, right-click on “Command Prompt”, and select “Run as administrator”.
2. Execute Uninstall Command: In the elevated Command Prompt window, type or paste the following command and press Enter:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\DefaultPackMSI\MainBootStrap.exe" uninstallAll

This command executes the uninstaller for the “DefaultPackPC” package, effectively removing the Bing search extension.

For deployment across multiple machines, this command can be incorporated into a script (e.g., BAT or PowerShell) and distributed using Group Policy, Configuration Manager, or other enterprise deployment tools.

Navigating Microsoft’s Approach¶

Microsoft’s decision to automatically install the Bing search extension as part of Microsoft 365 updates has sparked discussions about user choice and control over their software environment. While Microsoft highlights the benefits of Microsoft Search in Bing for enterprise users, the opt-out approach rather than opt-in has been a point of contention.

Organizations need to proactively manage this change to align with their search engine preferences and IT policies. By implementing the methods outlined in this guide, IT administrators can effectively prevent the unwanted installation of the Bing search extension or remove it if it has already been installed. It is crucial to choose the strategy that best fits your organization’s size, infrastructure, and management capabilities.

In conclusion, while Microsoft aims to enhance the enterprise search experience through Bing integration, organizations have the tools and options to maintain control over their default search engine settings. Understanding these methods and proactively implementing them ensures a smooth and controlled IT environment.

We encourage you to share your experiences and questions regarding managing the Bing search extension in Microsoft 365. What methods have you found most effective in your organization? Let us know in the comments below!