Windows 11 Search redesign adds taskbar actions and optional Copilot
Microsoft is rebuilding Windows 11 Search with direct taskbar actions, richer previews and optional Copilot answers, but the redesign remains in testing.
Microsoft is rebuilding Windows 11 Search around a simpler idea: the box on the taskbar should do more than find an app or file. A preview now rolling out to Windows Insiders can also interpret a handful of everyday commands, while Microsoft is preparing richer file previews, broader web results and optional Copilot answers.1
What is changing
The redesigned Search experience is built with WinUI 3, which Microsoft says improves performance and reduces memory use. It is also intended to handle typos and synonyms more effectively than the current interface. The most immediate change is that Search can recognise actions rather than merely return links or shortcuts.1
A user can type commands such as “switch to dark mode”, “turn on Bluetooth”, “mute” or an instruction to arrange windows. Search then offers the relevant action directly from the taskbar, avoiding a trip through Settings. The feature uses a small machine-learning model running locally on the computer’s processor to match intent to an action; Microsoft says it is not a generative large language model and does not require an NPU.1
Previews, web results and Copilot
Microsoft is also working on inline file previews and richer details for documents, presentations and photographs. Future web results are expected to show more information inside Search, including cards for queries about weather, share prices and other common subjects. Filters should make it easier to narrow results by category, such as files.1
Copilot will eventually be part of the experience too. Microsoft plans to let Search recognise questions that could benefit from a longer answer and show an AI-generated response inline, with an option to open the Copilot app for a fuller conversation. The company says that opt-in capability will begin rolling out in select markets later this year, rather than making generative AI the foundation of every Search query.1
Who can try it now
The new Search is still experimental. Windows Insiders on the Experimental channel can access it on Windows 11 versions 26H2 and 26H1, provided they are running build 26340.9616 for 26H2 or 28120.3181 for 26H1, or a later release. If it does not appear after installing the relevant preview, Microsoft says to check Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program > Feature flags and restart the PC.1
The rollout began on October 7, 2026, but the complete feature set is not arriving at once. Microsoft is planning the richer results and other improvements for later this year, while a deeper integration with Start menu Search is targeted for 2027. The company has not announced a general-release date for all Windows 11 users.1
Search will not yet control a connected phone, although Microsoft is working on letting users send text messages from the feature through Phone Link and Link to Windows. Microsoft also has not confirmed whether the new design will completely replace the existing Start menu Search interface.1
Why the approach matters
Windows Search has long been caught between being a launcher, a file finder and a web-search box. Adding direct actions could make it more useful, particularly for simple settings changes that currently require several clicks. Keeping the first layer of those actions local and rule-based may also make the feature feel less intrusive than an assistant that sends every request to a cloud service.
The harder test will be reliability. A compact interface and smarter matching will not help if Search misses files, misunderstands commands or fills the results panel with material users did not ask for. Optional Copilot integration is a sensible boundary, but Microsoft will still need to make the core experience fast and predictable before the redesign reaches every Windows 11 PC.
Our opinion
Microsoft appears to be taking a more measured route than simply turning Search into a Copilot window. Local actions that do not need an NPU could make the taskbar genuinely quicker, while optional AI answers leave users some control over when a conversational layer appears. The preview is not proof that the redesign will be good in daily use, but separating practical shortcuts from generative AI is a promising start.1