Overview
- Microsoft unveiled a rebuilt Windows 11 Search that is rolling to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel as a limited test and will expand features into testing later this year.
- The new Search is billed as a 'system composer' that can perform thousands of quick actions from the Taskbar, such as toggling dark mode, turning on Do Not Disturb, and arranging windows.
- Users can make inline adjustments inside the Search pane, including a microphone volume slider, brightness and screenshot controls, and the ability to send text messages without opening separate apps.
- The interface is rebuilt on WinUI 3 as a slimmer vertical panel with the input at the bottom and a single stacked results list, which Microsoft says brings measurable speed and memory improvements.
- Search now surfaces inline Copilot answers and Bing-powered cards for web queries, and Microsoft plans to test richer file previews and metadata later, a change that could reduce app switching but will be refined before wide release.