Microsoft is improving the search experience in Windows 11. The company announced that it will sequentially roll out the new search update to participants in the Windows Insider program.
The core of these changes lies in making the search screen simpler and easier to view. The search home screen is streamlined by reducing visual elements to allow for faster access to recent search history. The search results screen is also revamped to display information from files, apps, and web results more clearly by widening the whitespace and rearranging components.
User options are also being expanded. Going forward, users will be able to directly control whether to display both Web and Microsoft Store items in search results. Additionally, sponsored content, such as products and promotions, that used to appear at the top of web search results will be removed.
Microsoft explained that this update also improves file and app search performance. While the individual changes are not significant, it appears that the overall perceived convenience will improve for users who frequently use the search bar.
Recently, Microsoft has been focusing not only on expanding Copilot-centric features but also on refining the basic usability of Windows 11. Along with the Start menu resizing and the ability to roll back problematic drivers, this improvement to the search bar is also interpreted as part of a trend to complement the operating system's everyday user experience.
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