Microsoft is making Windows Search faster and less cluttered with new update

Microsoft is rolling out numerous improvements for the Windows Search box to Insiders in the Experimental channel.

As promised earlier, Microsoft is rolling out a batch of improvements to the Windows Search Box for Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel. After the customizable taskbar, which arrived in the latest build, it’s now time to improve taskbar elements.

The improvements focus on making search results faster and more streamlined, so users can focus on what they’re searching for, instead of looking at all sorts of widgets and additional stuff that usually come as rather distracting, instead of being actually helpful.

The rollout is gradual, arriving via Controlled Feature Rollout, so not everyone will see it immediately. Insiders can reboot to check if it's landed, or opt in early through feature flags.

Here is Microsoft's full rundown of what's changing:

A calmer home screen. Search home has been simplified to reduce visual clutter and make it easier to get back to recent searches quickly.

Clearer results. Search does a better job showing where a result comes from—app, setting, file, web result, or Store suggestion—so it’s easier to tell what you’re looking at and where you will go before you click.

Promotional content has been removed from web results. Web results show the most relevant answer, instead of first showing related products and promotions, helping search feel more focused and less distracting.

You’re in control of web and Microsoft Store results. A new setting in Settings > Privacy & Security > Search lets you choose whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear alongside local results.

Local results prioritized when they’re the better match. Apps, settings, and files more reliably appear ahead of web and Store suggestions when your content is the stronger match. System items like This PC and Recycle Bin are easier to discover.

Finding apps is more forgiving. Search is better at handling typos, dropped letters, extra letters, and partial words for apps. Queries like “utlook” can still find Outlook.

Settings results are improving. We’ve made a first round of ranking improvements to help more relevant settings appear higher in results, with more tuning planned in the coming months.

Finding files is improving. Search is better at surfacing the right local files with added support for two-character file searches. We’ve also made improvements to show cloud and connected files in results when they’re the stronger match. These changes help you get to the document, download, or folder you are looking for faster.

Reliability is improving. Improved search reliability, including reducing likelihood of crashing and loading issue, with more work underway.

Microsoft says these changes reflect the recent feedback from Insiders. If you want to help improve the Windows experience further, submit your feedback through the Feedback Hub app, available to all Windows Insiders.

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Posted Tuesday 14 July 2026 at 8:23 am AEST (my time).

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