This past week, Microsoft has officially confirmed the rollout of Windows 11 version 26H2, with the latest build, 26300.8697, now available for testing in the experimental Insider channel. The company has also shared additional insights primarily aimed at IT and system administrators. Notably, version 26H2 will be delivered through an enablement package (eKB) over the existing Windows 11 25H2.
Exciting Features on the Horizon
Among the anticipated features in this upcoming Windows version is one that has garnered significant attention: the long-requested enhancement to the Search functionality. March Rogers, the Partner Director of Design at Microsoft, recently took to X to discuss some of the improvements being tested. During this interaction, he confirmed that the company is prioritizing local file search over web results, a change that many users have been eagerly awaiting.
Local files are prioritized in the new search updates. Also if you want you can turn off web suggestions entirely.
— March Rogers (@marchr) June 15, 2026
You can turn off web results in settings: Privacy & Security > Search
— March Rogers (@marchr) June 16, 2026
However, it is important to note that the ability to disable web search results may not be universally available at this time, as new features are often rolled out gradually.
Windows enthusiast phantomofearth has delved into the latest builds and uncovered the necessary IDs to enable these new Search-related features. To access the enhanced Search experience in Windows 11 26H2, users will need the following feature IDs:
To enable the new Search experience you’ll need several IDs:
61267302, 61344081, 61482515, 61532758, 61760679. Make sure 48433719 is enabled (should be enabled on most Experimental installs already) if this doesn’t work.
— phantomofearth 🌳 (@phantomofearth) June 20, 2026
Steps to Enable the New Search Experience
For those eager to explore the new Search functionality in Windows 11 build 26300.8697, follow these steps:
- Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files in a convenient folder.
- Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin).
- Switch Windows Terminal to the Command Prompt profile using the Ctrl + Shift + 2 shortcut or by clicking the arrow-down button at the top of the window.
- Navigate to the folder containing the ViveTool files using the CD command. For instance, if ViveTool is located in C:Vive, type CD C:Vive.
- Type vivetool /enable /id: followed by the relevant ID and press Enter.
- Restart your computer.
If you decide to revert your changes, simply repeat the steps above, replacing /enable with /disable in the commands of steps 5 and 6.
Users who have successfully disabled web search and other extraneous features have reported a noticeable improvement in the responsiveness of the Windows 11 Search, as noted by fellow enthusiast Xeno. This shift towards a more streamlined search experience appears to be a welcome development for many within the Windows community.
