Question

Windows 10: Activate Cortana - here's how

Answer 1

Show Cortana in Windows 10
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
5th step:
Activate Cortana again via the registry
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
Stop blocking Cortana through the firewall
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
Quick guide: Show Cortana in Windows 10
Quick guide: reactivate Cortana via the registry
Quick guide: Stop blocking Cortana through the firewall

---

Cortana is the Microsoft Windows voice assistant. We'll show you how to activate them..

The voice assistant Cortana is included by default in Windows 10. It offers a variety of functions - from alarm clocks to customized searches. If you have deactivated Cortana or if the function is not preset, you can activate the Windows voice assistant. We'll show you how to do that very easily.

• Show Cortana in Windows 10
• Activate Cortana again via the registry
• Stop blocking Cortana through the firewall

Show Cortana in Windows 10

Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the quick start guide .

1st step:

Click the circle in the system tray . If this is not available, you can open Cortana from the program overview in the start menu .

2nd step:

Cortana is now open. Select " Cortana can do a lot more ... ". Now you need to sign in with your Microsoft account to fully activate Cortana.

3rd step:

Open your Start menu again to make specific settings for Cortana. Click on the gear symbol to get to the settings.

4th step:

Now select " Cortana " to access the Cortana settings.

5th step:

Here you can customize Cortana to your liking . For example, you can turn on voice activation with the command " Hey Cortana ". To do this, click on the slider. Depending on your preferences, you still have to click on " Safe " in the pop-up. Afterwards you can activate Cortana with the help of a microphone and voice control.

Activate Cortana again via the registry

Have you deactivated Cortana via the registry ? Then you have to activate Cortana again via it. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the quick start guide ..

1st step:

Open your start menu and search for " regedit ". Right click on it. Then select " Run as administrator ".

2nd step:

Follow the path HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Windows Search and select " AllowCortana ". Right click on it and select " Change ". Alternatively, you can double-click on it .

3rd step:

Change the value from 0 to 1 to reactivate Cortana . You must restart your computer for the process to complete .

Stop blocking Cortana through the firewall

If you disabled Cortana through the firewall? Then you have to reactivate Cortana in the same way. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the quick start guide .

1st step:

Open your Start menu and look for " Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security ". Right click on it and select "Run as administrator ".

2nd step:

On the left, click Outbound Rules . The existing Cortana block " Block Cortana Outbound Traffic " is displayed.

3rd step:

Right-click the Cortana rule . Then select " Delete ".

4th step:

Confirm this by clicking " Yes " in the pop-up . You may need to restart your computer . Cortana is now activated again .

Quick guide: Show Cortana in Windows 10

1. Click the circle in the system tray or the Cortana search field . If this is not available, select " Cortana " in the program overview of the start menu.
2. Now Cortana has opened. Click on " Cortana can do a lot more ... " and log in with your Microsoft account . Cortana is now activated .
3. If you now want to adapt Cortana to your needs, open the settings and go to the " Cortana " area, where you can still make various settings.

Quick guide: reactivate Cortana via the registry

1. Enter " regedit " in the Windows search field .
2. Right click on the appropriate result and select " Run as administrator ". You may have to enter your administrator ID now. Usually this corresponds to your normal login data.
3. Then go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Windows Search directory and double- click " AllowCortana ".
4. Set the value to the left of 0 to 1 and click OK .
5. Cortana is now active again . For it to be fully activated, you will need to restart your computer .

Quick guide: Stop blocking Cortana through the firewall

1. Open the start menu. Enter " Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security " and right click on it. Then select " Run as administrator ".
2. Click on " Outbound Rules " on the left and then look for a blocking rule related to Cortana. This is called " Block Cortana Outbound Traffic ".
3. Right click on it and choose Delete from the menu .
4. A pop-up window will open. Click on " Yes " to confirm the deletion of the rule. You may have to restart your computer now . Then Cortana is activated again.

---