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“Windows Search needs less Bing” — Microsoft is finally adding an off switch in Windows 11
Winsage
June 23, 2026

“Windows Search needs less Bing” — Microsoft is finally adding an off switch in Windows 11

Microsoft has unveiled build 26300.8697 for Windows 11, which includes a new setting that allows users to disable Bing-powered web results in the Windows Search function. This feature aims to provide a more focused search experience by minimizing distractions from online suggestions. Users in the European Economic Area have had similar controls due to the Digital Markets Act, and Microsoft is now extending this functionality to all markets. The new setting can be found under Settings > Privacy & security > Search and is labeled "Web Searches." Additionally, the "Privacy & security" page has been reorganized for better usability, with new entry points for features like Passkeys and the Custom Dictionary. Currently, the feature is not officially available and can only be activated using ViveTool feature IDs, indicating that it is still in development.
Microsoft confirms Windows 11 26H2 to finally get one of the most requested features
Winsage
June 21, 2026

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 26H2 to finally get one of the most requested features

Microsoft has confirmed the rollout of Windows 11 version 26H2, with build 26300.8697 now available for testing in the experimental Insider channel. This version will be delivered through an enablement package over the existing Windows 11 25H2. A key feature is the enhancement to the Search functionality, prioritizing local file search over web results, with the option to disable web suggestions in settings. Users can enable the new Search experience using feature IDs: 61267302, 61344081, 61482515, 61532758, 61760679, and ensuring ID 48433719 is enabled. Steps to enable the new Search functionality include downloading ViveTool, using Command Prompt to enable the relevant IDs, and restarting the computer. Users have reported improved responsiveness in the Search feature after disabling web search.
How Five PostgreSQL Optimizations Sped Up Our Dashboard
Tech Optimizer
June 20, 2026

How Five PostgreSQL Optimizations Sped Up Our Dashboard

The dashboard operates on a Django monolith with PostgreSQL and is transitioning to ClickHouse for denormalization. The initial p50 metric was 0.7 seconds, but the p95 was 8 seconds, which was reduced to 1 second. Observability tools were established to monitor performance, and slow HTTP requests were identified using OpenTelemetry traces. Optimization techniques included late joining, asynchronous counting, creating a PostgreSQL replica for read operations, and improving full-text search. Denormalization was explored to enhance filtering performance by creating composite indexes. The production stack was upgraded to PostgreSQL 18, which provided incremental performance improvements. The final p95 value achieved was 1 second, below the target of 3 seconds.
Microsoft confirms Windows 11 Search will find your apps, not Bing results, even if you make typos
Winsage
June 18, 2026

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 Search will find your apps, not Bing results, even if you make typos

Microsoft has released the Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8687 for Windows 11 on June 12, 2026, which improves the Windows Search functionality. The update allows the search tool to accurately locate applications even with misspellings, omitted letters, or partial words. For example, typing “utlook” will yield Outlook as a result. Enhancements in the ranking of settings search results ensure that the most relevant options appear at the top. The update also improves local file search, allowing users to find files like “Severance-S2E5” more effectively. A new feature is being tested that will let users turn off web results in Windows Search, focusing exclusively on local content. Currently, disabling Bing results requires navigating through the Windows Registry, but a toggle in the Settings menu is being introduced for easier access. The June 2026 update has already implemented search enhancements, including returning file results after just two characters and a feature called Search by Substring, which allows users to find files using any segment of a filename.
Windows 11 Search will soon handle typos more effectively
Winsage
June 17, 2026

Windows 11 Search will soon handle typos more effectively

Microsoft is enhancing the search functionality in Windows 11, currently testing updates in beta version 26300.8687 for Windows Insiders. The new features include a typo-correction capability that allows users to input queries with minor errors and still receive accurate results. Additionally, the ranking of search results has been refined to prioritize more relevant apps and files at the top.
I dug through the Windows 11 Insider builds for June 2026 and found 7 features worth paying attention to
Winsage
June 17, 2026

I dug through the Windows 11 Insider builds for June 2026 and found 7 features worth paying attention to

Microsoft rolled out several preview builds of Windows 11 in early June 2026 as part of the Windows Insider Program, focusing on refining existing functionalities rather than introducing many new features. A new Beta channel for version 26H1 was launched, featuring: - Screen Tint: An accessibility feature that provides a system-wide color overlay to reduce eye strain, accessible through Settings > Accessibility > Vision > Screen Tint, offering six preset colors or custom hues. - Low Latency Profile: Temporarily boosts processor frequency for 1 to 3 seconds during interactive tasks, improving application launch times by up to 40% and interaction times by as much as 70%, operating automatically without manual toggles. - Widgets Experience Update: Widgets now open without hover activation, Taskbar badges are off by default, and alerts are limited until user interaction. The dashboard displays Widgets under "widgets," and badging aligns with the system accent color. - Magnifier Enhancements: Users can input specific zoom percentages directly and access additional zoom presets ranging from 5% to 400%. - File Explorer Changes: Improvements for compatibility, performance, and reliability, including support for paths with double backslashes and quotation marks, and middle-click support for opening folders in new tabs. - Windows Update: Unification of drivers, .NET, and firmware updates with monthly quality updates, reducing required restarts to one per month. - Windows Search Enhancements: Improved handling of typos, missing letters, and partial app names, prioritizing accurate search results even with input errors.
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