diff --git a/app/controllers/search_controller.rb b/app/controllers/search_controller.rb
index d4dc75a523d03f83991d8ad345b23251848df5ec..65a8869cc0de142cdbbc95c258c18342ef717b4f 100644
--- a/app/controllers/search_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/search_controller.rb
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def authenticate?
       return true
     end
 
-    return true if ::Feature.disabled?(:allow_anonymous_searches, type: :ops)
+    return true unless ::Gitlab::CurrentSettings.anonymous_searches_allowed?
 
     false
   end
diff --git a/app/helpers/application_settings_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_settings_helper.rb
index 8a8860b3fe2339d537a6ac3486e08f950aaed21f..774bddf5f21ee0a9b2a0d206dd0b3579d5236877 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_settings_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_settings_helper.rb
@@ -74,9 +74,16 @@ def enabled_protocol_button(container, protocol)
 
   def global_search_settings_checkboxes(form)
     [
+      form.gitlab_ui_checkbox_component(
+        :anonymous_searches_allowed,
+        _("Allow unauthenticated users to use search"),
+        checkbox_options: {
+          checked: @application_setting.anonymous_searches_allowed, multiple: false
+        }
+      ),
       form.gitlab_ui_checkbox_component(
         :global_search_block_anonymous_searches_enabled,
-        _("Restrict global search to authenticated users"),
+        _("Restrict global search to authenticated users only"),
         checkbox_options: {
           checked: @application_setting.global_search_block_anonymous_searches_enabled, multiple: false
         }
diff --git a/app/views/admin/application_settings/_global_search_settings.html.haml b/app/views/admin/application_settings/_global_search_settings.html.haml
index 84986941cb9d55d9f09d728e95c67b6f37c42f57..cb9cd7b4e41942a3bcb0712d5c6dbed853858b32 100644
--- a/app/views/admin/application_settings/_global_search_settings.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/admin/application_settings/_global_search_settings.html.haml
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-= render ::Layouts::SettingsBlockComponent.new(_('Global Search'),
+= render ::Layouts::SettingsBlockComponent.new(_('Visibility and access controls'),
   id: 'js-global-search-settings',
   testid: 'admin-global-search-settings',
   expanded: expanded_by_default?) do |c|
   - c.with_description do
-    = _('Configure settings for global search.')
-    = link_to _('Learn more.'), help_page_path('user/search/_index.md', anchor: 'disable-global-search-scopes'), target: '_blank', rel: 'noopener noreferrer'
+    = _('Configure search access and visibility settings for search scopes.')
+    = link_to _('Learn more.'), help_page_path('user/search/_index.md', anchor: 'restrict-search-access'), target: '_blank', rel: 'noopener noreferrer'
   - c.with_body do
     = gitlab_ui_form_for @application_setting, url: general_admin_application_settings_path(anchor: 'js-global-search-settings'), html: { class: 'fieldset-form', id: 'global-search-settings' } do |f|
       = form_errors(@application_setting)
diff --git a/config/feature_flags/ops/allow_anonymous_searches.yml b/config/feature_flags/ops/allow_anonymous_searches.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 248beb7c39d531e2ed3eb133a2d6571a3d116392..0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
--- a/config/feature_flags/ops/allow_anonymous_searches.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
----
-name: allow_anonymous_searches
-introduced_by_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/138975
-rollout_issue_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/434218
-milestone: '16.7'
-type: ops
-group: group::global search
-default_enabled: true
diff --git a/doc/user/search/_index.md b/doc/user/search/_index.md
index ab8efb825178febf1f2e0829638e6de9f30f7898..7c925934d69fd0054e902e056a24a598327eaf26 100644
--- a/doc/user/search/_index.md
+++ b/doc/user/search/_index.md
@@ -64,8 +64,9 @@ For more information, see [issue 477333](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/
 {{< history >}}
 
 - Restricting global search to authenticated users [introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/41041) in GitLab 13.4 [with a flag](../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `block_anonymous_global_searches`. Disabled by default.
-- Enabling or disabling anonymous searches [introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/138975) in GitLab 16.7 [with a flag](../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `allow_anonymous_searches`. Enabled by default.
-- Enabling or disabling anonymous searches [generally available](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/186727) in GitLab 17.11 as a UI option, instead of the `block_anonymous_global_searches` flag.
+- Allowing search for unauthenticated users [introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/138975) in GitLab 16.7 [with a flag](../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `allow_anonymous_searches`. Enabled by default.
+- Restricting global search to authenticated users [generally available](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/186727) in GitLab 17.11. Feature flag `block_anonymous_global_searches` removed.
+- Allowing search for unauthenticated users [generally available](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/190090) in GitLab 18.0. Feature flag `allow_anonymous_searches` removed.
 
 {{< /history >}}
 
@@ -77,16 +78,22 @@ By default, requests to `/search` and global search are available for unauthenti
 
 To restrict `/search` to authenticated users only, do one of the following:
 
-- [Restrict public visibility](../../administration/settings/visibility_and_access_controls.md#restrict-visibility-levels)
-  of the project or group.
-- Disable the [feature flag](../../administration/feature_flags.md) `allow_anonymous_searches`.
+- [Restrict visibility levels](../../administration/settings/visibility_and_access_controls.md#restrict-visibility-levels)
+  for the project or group.
+- Restrict access in the **Admin** area:
+
+  1. On the left sidebar, at the bottom, select **Admin**.
+  1. Select **Settings > Search**.
+  1. Expand **Advanced search**.
+  1. Clear the **Allow unauthenticated users to use search** checkbox.
+  1. Select **Save changes**.
 
 To restrict global search to authenticated users only:
 
 1. On the left sidebar, at the bottom, select **Admin**.
 1. Select **Settings > Search**.
-1. Expand **Global search**
-1. Select **Restrict global search to authenticated users**.
+1. Expand **Visibility and access controls**
+1. Select the **Restrict global search to authenticated users only** checkbox.
 1. Select **Save changes**.
 
 ## Disable global search scopes
@@ -116,7 +123,7 @@ To disable one or more global search scopes:
 
 1. On the left sidebar, at the bottom, select **Admin**.
 1. Select **Settings > Search**.
-1. Expand **Global search**.
+1. Expand **Visibility and access controls**.
 1. Clear the checkboxes for the scopes you want to disable.
 1. Select **Save changes**.
 
diff --git a/ee/app/helpers/ee/application_settings_helper.rb b/ee/app/helpers/ee/application_settings_helper.rb
index 215ba426ca39d8d829b4d0ca23a7d8abe08b746a..ea9a183acf800736513b8fbff6533ca40ca102e4 100644
--- a/ee/app/helpers/ee/application_settings_helper.rb
+++ b/ee/app/helpers/ee/application_settings_helper.rb
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ def global_search_settings_checkboxes(form)
         ),
         form.gitlab_ui_checkbox_component(
           :global_search_wiki_enabled,
-          _("Show wiki in global search results"),
+          _("Show wikis in global search results"),
           checkbox_options: { checked: @application_setting.global_search_wiki_enabled, multiple: false }
         )
       ]
diff --git a/ee/spec/helpers/ee/application_settings_helper_spec.rb b/ee/spec/helpers/ee/application_settings_helper_spec.rb
index 1ce11724401089573b4290215bf1b7c6054e103e..7d8d4899fc519eb1eb220deaf8af02cff6f7eed6 100644
--- a/ee/spec/helpers/ee/application_settings_helper_spec.rb
+++ b/ee/spec/helpers/ee/application_settings_helper_spec.rb
@@ -260,15 +260,16 @@
     it 'returns correctly checked checkboxes' do
       helper.gitlab_ui_form_for(application_setting, url: search_admin_application_settings_path) do |form|
         result = helper.global_search_settings_checkboxes(form)
-        expect(result[0]).not_to have_checked_field('Restrict global search to authenticated users', with: 1)
-        expect(result[1]).to have_checked_field('Show issues in global search results', with: 1)
-        expect(result[2]).not_to have_checked_field('Show merge requests in global search results', with: 1)
-        expect(result[3]).to have_checked_field('Show snippets in global search results', with: 1)
-        expect(result[4]).not_to have_checked_field('Show users in global search results', with: 1)
-        expect(result[5]).to have_checked_field('Show code in global search results', with: 1)
-        expect(result[6]).not_to have_checked_field('Show commits in global search results', with: 1)
-        expect(result[7]).to have_checked_field('Show epics in global search results', with: 1)
-        expect(result[8]).to have_checked_field('Show wiki in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[0]).to have_checked_field('Allow unauthenticated users to use search', with: 1)
+        expect(result[1]).not_to have_checked_field('Restrict global search to authenticated users only', with: 1)
+        expect(result[2]).to have_checked_field('Show issues in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[3]).not_to have_checked_field('Show merge requests in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[4]).to have_checked_field('Show snippets in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[5]).not_to have_checked_field('Show users in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[6]).to have_checked_field('Show code in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[7]).not_to have_checked_field('Show commits in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[8]).to have_checked_field('Show epics in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[9]).to have_checked_field('Show wikis in global search results', with: 1)
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/locale/gitlab.pot b/locale/gitlab.pot
index be86a92c1753968aafb85163bb1996dc4869453d..cf835046054053c689f0af6e18cd9460df030451 100644
--- a/locale/gitlab.pot
+++ b/locale/gitlab.pot
@@ -6483,6 +6483,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Allow top-level group owners to create Service accounts."
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Allow unauthenticated users to use search"
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "Allow use of licensed EE features"
 msgstr ""
 
@@ -16716,13 +16719,13 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Configure runner version management and registration settings."
 msgstr ""
 
-msgid "Configure settings for Advanced Search with Elasticsearch."
+msgid "Configure search access and visibility settings for search scopes."
 msgstr ""
 
-msgid "Configure settings for exact code search."
+msgid "Configure settings for Advanced Search with Elasticsearch."
 msgstr ""
 
-msgid "Configure settings for global search."
+msgid "Configure settings for exact code search."
 msgstr ""
 
 msgid "Configure specific limits for Files API requests that supersede the general user and IP rate limits."
@@ -28346,9 +28349,6 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Global SAML group membership lock"
 msgstr ""
 
-msgid "Global Search"
-msgstr ""
-
 msgid "Global Search is disabled for this scope"
 msgstr ""
 
@@ -51162,7 +51162,7 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Restrict access by IP address"
 msgstr ""
 
-msgid "Restrict global search to authenticated users"
+msgid "Restrict global search to authenticated users only"
 msgstr ""
 
 msgid "Restrict membership by email domain"
@@ -57372,7 +57372,7 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Show whitespace changes"
 msgstr ""
 
-msgid "Show wiki in global search results"
+msgid "Show wikis in global search results"
 msgstr ""
 
 msgid "Showing %d project."
diff --git a/spec/controllers/search_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/search_controller_spec.rb
index 713c18f263996b1a51961d4c1aa8daa21371cda5..9fbc9fba743a1696c751930a7b83a031b655b9e8 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/search_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/search_controller_spec.rb
@@ -252,9 +252,9 @@
           end
         end
 
-        context 'when allow_anonymous_searches is disabled' do
+        context 'when anonymous_searches_allowed is disabled' do
           before do
-            stub_feature_flags(allow_anonymous_searches: false)
+            stub_application_setting(anonymous_searches_allowed: false)
           end
 
           context 'for unauthenticated user' do
@@ -754,7 +754,7 @@ def request
     describe 'redirecting' do
       using RSpec::Parameterized::TableSyntax
 
-      where(:restricted_visibility_levels, :allow_anonymous_searches, :block_anonymous_global_searches, :redirect) do
+      where(:restricted_visibility_levels, :anonymous_searches_allowed, :block_anonymous_global_searches, :redirect) do
         [Gitlab::VisibilityLevel::PUBLIC]   | true  | false | true
         [Gitlab::VisibilityLevel::PRIVATE]  | true  | false | false
         nil                                 | true  | false | false
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ def request
       with_them do
         before do
           stub_application_setting(restricted_visibility_levels: restricted_visibility_levels)
-          stub_feature_flags(allow_anonymous_searches: allow_anonymous_searches)
+          stub_application_setting(anonymous_searches_allowed: anonymous_searches_allowed)
           stub_application_setting(global_search_block_anonymous_searches_enabled: block_anonymous_global_searches)
         end
 
diff --git a/spec/helpers/application_settings_helper_spec.rb b/spec/helpers/application_settings_helper_spec.rb
index 4c59e8a688153b7982f4aefeca0b075b24170072..5833a674e8194bc7b53e82ef9d789157a252877e 100644
--- a/spec/helpers/application_settings_helper_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/helpers/application_settings_helper_spec.rb
@@ -402,11 +402,12 @@
     it 'returns correctly checked checkboxes' do
       helper.gitlab_ui_form_for(application_setting, url: search_admin_application_settings_path) do |form|
         result = helper.global_search_settings_checkboxes(form)
-        expect(result[0]).to have_checked_field('Restrict global search to authenticated users', with: 1)
-        expect(result[1]).to have_checked_field('Show issues in global search results', with: 1)
-        expect(result[2]).not_to have_checked_field('Show merge requests in global search results', with: 1)
-        expect(result[3]).to have_checked_field('Show snippets in global search results', with: 1)
-        expect(result[4]).not_to have_checked_field('Show users in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[0]).to have_checked_field('Allow unauthenticated users to use search', with: 1)
+        expect(result[1]).to have_checked_field('Restrict global search to authenticated users only', with: 1)
+        expect(result[2]).to have_checked_field('Show issues in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[3]).not_to have_checked_field('Show merge requests in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[4]).to have_checked_field('Show snippets in global search results', with: 1)
+        expect(result[5]).not_to have_checked_field('Show users in global search results', with: 1)
       end
     end
   end