Hello Windows Insiders,
You’ve expressed a desire for a search experience that is not only faster but also more relevant and user-friendly. Whether it’s launching an application, locating a file, or adjusting a setting, the Windows Search Box serves as the starting point for many users. With this in mind, our team has prioritized enhancing the clarity, dependability, and ease of scanning search results before you make a selection.
Windows Search Box improvements gradually rolling out today to Windows Insiders
Today marks the beginning of a phased rollout of several enhancements to the Windows Search Box, specifically for Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel. These updates will be introduced gradually through a Controlled Feature Rollout, meaning that not every Insider will see them immediately. A simple reboot may reveal the changes for some users today, and they are also accessible via feature flags.
- A calmer home screen. The search home interface has been streamlined to minimize visual clutter, allowing users to quickly return to recent searches.
- Clearer results. The search function now provides better context for results, indicating whether they originate from an app, setting, file, web result, or Store suggestion, making it easier to understand what you’re viewing before clicking.
- Promotional content has been removed from web results. Users will now see the most relevant answers first, rather than being presented with related products and promotions, creating a more focused search experience.
- You’re in control of web and Microsoft Store results. A new setting located in Settings > Privacy & Security > Search allows users to decide whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear alongside local results.
- Local results prioritized when they’re the better match. When relevant, apps, settings, and files will now appear more prominently than web and Store suggestions, making system items like This PC and Recycle Bin easier to find.
- Finding apps is more forgiving. The search function has improved its ability to handle typos, omitted letters, extra letters, and partial words, ensuring that queries like “utlook” still lead to Outlook.
- Settings results are improving. Initial ranking enhancements have been implemented to ensure that more relevant settings are displayed higher in search results, with further adjustments planned in the coming months.
- Finding files is improving. The search function is now more adept at locating local files, including support for two-character file searches. Improvements have also been made to display cloud and connected files when they are the stronger match, facilitating quicker access to documents, downloads, or folders.
- Reliability is improving. Users can expect enhanced search reliability, including a reduction in crashes and loading issues, with ongoing work to further improve this aspect.
Try the changes and give us feedback
These enhancements are now available to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel. The updates reflect the valuable feedback you’ve provided, and we are committed to refining them as they become available to a broader audience. We encourage you to share your thoughts in the Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Search.
Jeff & Anderson
NOTE: Experiences vary by region.
