Windows Search, a feature that has long been criticized for its cluttered interface filled with ads and irrelevant suggestions, is undergoing a significant transformation. Microsoft has begun rolling out a series of enhancements to Windows Search for Insiders, aiming to create a more streamlined and user-friendly experience. This update, which started on July 13, is being introduced gradually, meaning not every Insider will see the changes immediately.
We tested this cleaner Search weeks before Microsoft made it official
In an early test on June 21, we activated a preliminary version of the new Search using ViveTool in Insider build 26300.8697. This initial build marked the introduction of Windows 11 26H2. The absence of web suggestions transformed the Search experience, making it feel refreshingly uncluttered. Microsoft is now officially delivering this improved experience through the Experimental channel, eliminating the need for ViveTool and allowing users to access the new features with a simple reboot.
Windows Search finally drops the MSN clutter
Upon opening the Search function without entering any text, users will notice a clean and distraction-free home screen. The previous clutter of daily quizzes, trending searches, and web-based tiles has been removed. Instead, the interface now prominently displays recent searches, allowing users to quickly resume their previous activities.
This shift away from non-native recommendations has been a long-awaited change. The previous web-based elements, which consumed valuable RAM without providing significant benefits, have been replaced with a more intuitive design that focuses solely on the user’s recent activity.
Search results now show where each hit will take you
Each search result now includes clear labels indicating its source—whether it’s an app, a setting, a local file, a web result, or a Microsoft Store suggestion. This enhancement allows users to make informed decisions before clicking on a result.
The layout has also been improved, with more spacious formatting and cleaner headers. For instance, when searching for a document, the preview pane on the right displays a thumbnail, file path, modified date, and quick action options, all presented in a more organized manner compared to the previous cluttered interface.
Web results lose ads
In a significant move, Microsoft has eliminated sponsored product cards from web results in Search. When users search for information, the results now lead directly to relevant answers, complete with source links, without the distraction of promotional content.
This decision raises questions about potential revenue implications for Microsoft, but it’s important to remember that Windows 11 is not a free operating system.
You decide whether Bing and the Microsoft Store show up
The most notable improvement in Search is the introduction of toggles that allow users to customize their experience. Located under Settings > Privacy & security > Search, these toggles enable users to disable Bing web results while retaining Microsoft Store suggestions, or to turn off both for a purely local search experience. Our tests revealed that disabling web searches significantly enhances speed, as the Search function no longer contends with the latency associated with web results.
Your apps and settings stop losing to Bing
Local matches now take precedence over web and Store suggestions, ensuring that relevant content is highlighted first. For example, typing utlook will yield the Outlook app as the top result instead of redirecting to a Bing search for the typo. This improved functionality extends to various types of input errors, allowing for a more forgiving search experience.
Finding local and cloud files gets less painful
File search continues to evolve, building on previous updates. Since the June 2026 update, Search now generates file results after just two characters, and substring matching allows users to find files with compound names more easily. The latest build enhances this by displaying cloud and connected files alongside local ones, reducing the need for meticulous file naming.
Search should also crash less often
Microsoft has also focused on improving the reliability of Search, reducing the likelihood of crashes and loading issues. During our testing on a low-spec PC, Search performed consistently well without unexpected interruptions. The overall speed of Search has seen remarkable improvements, not only in the display of results but also in the responsiveness of the user interface.
What I would like to see in Search
While these changes are certainly positive, there remains a noticeable amount of white space within the Search interface. Although it is essential for Search and the Start menu to maintain similar dimensions, a more compact design could enhance usability. A smaller Search UI, minimizing wasted space, would contribute to a more efficient user experience.
How to turn on the new Windows Search as an Insider
For those eager to experience the new Windows Search, if a reboot does not activate the changes, users can manually enable them via the Feature flags page. Navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program > Feature flags, then enable Refined Windows Search, Searchable System Components, and Short Query File Search support. After applying changes and restarting, the new web and Store toggles will be available for use.
While there is no official timeline for when these improvements will reach the broader Windows user base, the positive feedback from Insiders suggests that a wider rollout may be on the horizon.
