How do I permanently restore the search feature on a MacBook Air in Illinois schools?

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How do I permanently restore the search feature on a MacBook Air in Illinois schools?

Can we please add the search ICON back into the menu bar MacBook Air System Golden Gate 27.01, it disappears after one use and only reappears after computer is asleep. This device is used in a special needs school setting and they do not want SIRI on the devices, no AI in education for the students, this is actually a state mandate in Illinois, they were working on no AI in schools. Please respect this and restore the search feature to how it used to be. ????

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Can we re-add the search feature, I am not sure if you are aware but in Illinois AI is has restrictions in schools (Senate Bill 1920 / Public Act 104-0399). To avoid issues we need the search option restored not removed as it has been.

Posted on Oct 1, 2026 9:28 AM

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Answer 1

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Phil0124

Community+ 2026

Level 10

238,018 points

Oct 1, 2026 12:00 PM in response to cpflueger

Contact your school's IT department and ask them to un-restrict it. This would be an option from their device management platform, Apple does not actively disable the Spotlight search option, but it has been merged with Siri on Golden Gate. But since Siri now uses AI as a base it may be restricted by the school's management software in accordance to Illinois Law if such mandate was imposed by the Illinois State Education board.

Check with IT if they are restricting Spotlight Search / Siri option in any way, and make sure its hasn't just been simply disabled from Settings ➜ Menu Bar ➜ Menu Bar Controls ➜ Siri.

click here ➜ Customize the menu bar on Mac - Apple Support

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