Windows Search Archives

Winsage

July 26, 2026

Everything we know so far about Windows 11’s big 2026 (26H2) update arriving this fall, including changes for Start menu, Taskbar, and Search

Windows 11's 2026 update, version 26H2, enhances the Start menu, Taskbar, and Windows Search. Taskbar Changes: - Users can reposition the Taskbar to the top, bottom, left, or right of the screen. - The interface adapts to the Taskbar's position, with the Start menu and Search opening downward when at the top. - Vertical Taskbar layouts have an abbreviated year display and lack a seconds option, but support app ungrouping and labels with the "Never combine" setting. - Users can reduce the Taskbar's size, which will also make icons smaller. Start Menu Changes: - Users can select from various size options for the Start menu, though drag-to-resize and full-screen layouts are not available. - Users can choose which sections ("Pinned," "Recent," and "All") to display. - A new setting allows users to hide their account name and profile picture while sharing screens. Search Changes: - The Search home page emphasizes recent searches and minimizes distractions from trending topics and promotional content. - Web results are prioritized over products or sponsored content when they are the best match. - Users can disable web results and Microsoft Store suggestions for a local search experience. - The ranking system prioritizes local content, ensuring apps, settings, and files appear before web results. - The Search box height has been increased by four pixels for improved usability.

Winsage

July 26, 2026

Windows 11’s File Explorer is now faster at deleting large files, in a rare speed win from Microsoft

Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8935 on July 20, which improves File Explorer's ability to delete large, fragmented files more quickly in certain scenarios. The update promises at least a 30% speed increase for bulk deletions and enhances the responsiveness of the Home tab in File Explorer. The Recommended section now supports touch scrolling. Future updates will include a modernization of the Properties dialog and improvements to search functionality. These enhancements aim to address the sluggishness of File Explorer, which has been attributed to fragmentation issues in NTFS and the hybrid architecture of the application.

Winsage

July 23, 2026

Windows 11 July preview update brings a batch of new features and fixes

Microsoft has released preview updates for Windows 11, specifically for the 24H2 and 25H2 builds, identified as 26100.8942 and 26200.8942. Key features include a redesigned File Explorer with automatic file size conversion, the ability to open folders in new tabs, and improved file previews. Voice Access now includes Voice Isolation to filter background noise. Windows Search can now handle two-letter file names and identify misspelled applications. New customizable settings for precision touchpads are introduced, and the Start menu will show subscription statuses for Microsoft services. Users can set a custom battery level for power-saving mode, and widget usage on the lock screen is simplified. The update is currently available to Windows Insiders and will be rolled out to all users later.

Winsage

July 21, 2026

Windows 11 will let you search for your files in plain language

Microsoft is testing a new semantic search feature for Windows 11's File Explorer, which aims to improve file search by understanding user intent rather than relying on exact word matches. This feature allows users to search in natural language, such as "photos from last summer" or "Europe trip budget," and can identify files based on context, even if specific names are not mentioned. The functionality is powered by an AI model that operates locally on users' machines to maintain privacy and does not require an internet connection. However, it is only available on Copilot+ PCs, which have specialized AI chips capable of executing at least 40 trillion operations per second, limiting access for users with older machines. Currently, the feature is available only to Windows Insiders as Microsoft rolls it out in test builds.

Winsage

July 18, 2026

Microsoft finally lets you pause Windows 11 updates until the exact date you want, and more, in latest patch

Microsoft has released a significant update for Windows 11 in July 2026, which includes user control over automatic updates, allowing users to pause updates for 1 to 35 days. The update addresses 570 bug fixes and introduces an automatic snapshot feature for system recovery, retaining system states for up to 72 hours, requiring 50GB of storage on devices with at least 200GB of disk space. Bluetooth functionality has improved, particularly in audio performance and synchronization. A new screen tint feature allows for custom colors and intensities for night viewing. The update is available for download, but some features may be rolled out gradually, and Dell PC owners may experience delays due to a USB connectivity bug. Additionally, Microsoft is streamlining Windows Search by removing sponsored content.

Winsage

July 17, 2026

Microsoft is finally fixing the worst thing about Windows Search, but you can’t try it just yet

Microsoft is rolling out significant improvements to Windows Search for Insiders in the Experimental channel. The search home screen has been redesigned to eliminate clutter, replacing trending topics and promotional offers with a streamlined list of recent searches. Search results now clearly indicate their source, and promotional content has been removed from web results. Users can customize their experience by disabling web and Microsoft Store suggestions. Improvements in typo tolerance allow common misspellings to yield correct results, and local files and settings are prioritized more effectively. Support for two-character file searches has been introduced, and reliability fixes have been implemented to address crashes and loading issues. These updates are expected to be rolled out to the broader user base in the coming months.

Winsage

July 14, 2026

Microsoft Releases July 2026 Patch Tuesday Updates

Microsoft has released the July 2026 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 versions 26H1, 25H2, and 24H2, introducing several key features: - A new recovery feature allows users to revert their PCs to a recent restore point. - The Widgets experience has been revamped to minimize distractions, including no longer opening upon hover and reduced memory usage. - Users can pause Windows updates for up to 35 days and re-pause them as needed. - A new screen tint feature applies a color overlay to reduce eye strain. - Magnifier now offers preset zoom increments and allows specific zoom percentages to be input. - Bluetooth connectivity improvements include quicker pairing for Apple’s AirPods and better reliability for Beats Studio Pro headphones. - Voice access and voice typing features are now available in French, German, and Spanish. - Users can customize the right-click zone size on touchpads with a pressable surface. - The emoji panel now uses GIPHY for GIF content. - Taskbar notification counts and badge visuals will update accurately. For Qualcomm-powered PCs running Windows 11 version 26H1, the KB5101649 update includes the Point-in-time restore feature and introduces new NPU usage metrics in Task Manager, the option to assign a custom user folder name during setup, and allows multiple applications to access the camera stream simultaneously. Improvements have also been made to Windows Hello authentication and Microsoft Store performance, along with enhancements to Windows Search for better file location and prioritization.

Winsage

July 14, 2026

Microsoft Is Finally Cleaning Up Windows 11 Search By Stripping Away Ads

Windows 11 users have expressed frustrations with the operating system's search function, which has been cluttered and confusing. Microsoft is implementing a comprehensive overhaul to improve the search experience, currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel. Key enhancements include the removal of promotional content from web results, prioritization of local results, and the introduction of a setting to disable web and Microsoft Store suggestions. Local content will be ranked higher in search results, and the search function will better tolerate typographical errors. Additionally, file searches will support two-character queries, and results will clearly indicate their sources. These changes are being tested first and will not be immediately available to all Windows 11 PCs.

Winsage

July 14, 2026

Microsoft is Finally Fixing Windows Search, No More Promotional Content

Microsoft has updated the Windows Search Box in Windows 11, now available to Windows Insiders on the Experimental Channel. The updates focus on delivering fewer, more relevant search results, improving user experience by reducing visual noise. Recent searches are easily accessible, and each result clearly indicates its source, enhancing transparency. Promotional content has been eliminated, prioritizing local matches from apps, settings, and files. Users can customize their experience by disabling web searches and Microsoft Store suggestions through Settings. Additionally, file search functionality has been improved for faster and more reliable results, accommodating minor spelling errors.

Winsage

July 14, 2026

Microsoft just decluttered Windows 11 Search after years of MSN tiles, ads, and trivia

Microsoft is rolling out significant enhancements to Windows Search, starting on July 13, aimed at creating a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for Insiders. The update eliminates clutter from the interface, removing web suggestions and ads, and replacing them with a clean home screen that displays recent searches. Each search result now includes clear labels indicating its source, and the layout has been improved for better organization. Sponsored product cards have been removed from web results, leading to direct answers without promotional content. Users can customize their experience with toggles to disable Bing web results or Microsoft Store suggestions. Local matches now take precedence over web results, improving search accuracy. File search has been enhanced to display results more quickly and include cloud files alongside local ones. Microsoft has also improved the reliability of Search, reducing crashes and loading issues. Users can enable the new features through the Feature flags page if they do not activate after a reboot. There is no official timeline for when these changes will be available to all Windows users.