A recent update to Microsoft Edge has unveiled hints that the Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu search may soon honor users’ default browser preferences. Currently, even if Chrome is set as the default browser, clicking on web links from Windows Search redirects users to Edge. However, future updates are expected to allow links to open directly in the user’s chosen browser, such as Chrome.
Many of the features within Windows Search are driven by Microsoft Edge, indicating that modifications to the browser can influence search behavior. In a recent Edge Canary build, several new flags have emerged, suggesting that users may soon have the flexibility to select different search engines and browsers beyond the confines of Bing and Edge.
Windows Latest has identified several intriguing flags that provide insight into this anticipated feature:
msEdgeSearchboxHandlerSendsFaviconData msExplicitLaunchNonBingDSE msExplicitLaunchNonBingDSEAndNonEdgeDB msExplicitLaunchNonEdgeDB msSettingsMatchWordStart msWSBLaunchNonBingDSE msWSBLaunchNonBingDSEAndNonEdgeDB msWSBLaunchNonEdgeDB
In this context, “Non-Edge-DB” refers to the Default Browser, which could be Chrome or Firefox. The abbreviation “WSB” likely stands for Windows Search Bar, while “DSE” denotes Default Search Engine. Connecting these dots reveals a clearer picture of the current limitations users face.
At present, performing a search via the taskbar consistently retrieves results from Bing through Microsoft Edge, regardless of the user’s default browser settings. For instance, even when Chrome is designated as the default browser, Windows Search still directs users to Bing.com in Edge, disregarding their preferences.
With the introduction of the msWSBLaunchNonBingDSE flag, Windows is set to adapt the search engine according to user preferences, allowing results to be fetched from a chosen engine rather than Bing. Users can select alternatives like Google or DuckDuckGo, ensuring that their searches reflect their preferences.
Moreover, the msWSBLaunchNonEdgeDB feature respects the default browser setting, meaning that if Chrome is selected, Windows Search will open links in Chrome instead of Edge. However, this still results in Bing being the search engine used in Chrome.
Fortunately, a combination of these functionalities exists under the flag msWSBLaunchNonBingDSEAndNonEdgeDB. When activated, this feature will honor both the user’s default search engine and browser, enabling Windows Search to open Google in Chrome if those preferences are established.
Additionally, there are three other WSB flags featuring the term “explicit,” indicating that the system will utilize them to redirect search requests through the user’s default browser and search engine.
Improved favicons and settings search
Windows Latest has also discovered a reference to the msEdgeSearchboxHandlerSendsFaviconData flag, which hints at enhancements in the overall experience of querying various search engines within the search box. This flag will ensure that accurate favicon data is passed to search results, allowing users to easily identify and select the correct sites.
Furthermore, Microsoft aims to refine the search functionality within Edge settings. When users search for a specific setting, Edge will match the words from the beginning, yielding precise results for all toggles and options that contain the searched term. For instance, typing “browser” will prompt matches starting from the beginning of the word.
While the timeline for these changes remains uncertain, it is yet to be determined whether the updates related to Windows Search and default browser settings will be limited to the European region.
