Microsoft used its October 7 Windows and Surface event to unveil a redesigned Windows Search for Windows 11 — one that doesn't just return links but carries out your instructions. Rollout to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel began October 7, 2026, with the initial preview available in English only.
The headline addition is "inline actions." Instead of returning a link to a Settings page, the new Search executes plain-language requests. Microsoft's examples include "switch to dark mode," "turn on night light," and "turn on Bluetooth," plus quick adjustments like "dim my screen" or "mute," and window management such as minimizing all open windows or arranging and snapping them. Sending a text through a phone connected with Phone Link is "coming soon," the company says.
The new Search is rebuilt on WinUI 3, which Microsoft says makes it faster and more efficient with system resources. The interface drops the familiar left results list plus right preview pane in favor of a single list — a decision Microsoft justifies by noting most clicks in Search already come from that left list. Early testing shows substantial improvements in performance and memory usage.
Search is getting better at handling typos and synonyms, with Microsoft promising continued tuning over the coming weeks. The Search home screen is calmer too: promotional content is gone from web results, and users get more control over web and Microsoft Store suggestions. Copilot remains in the plan — users can ask Copilot questions directly from Search, see answers inline, and jump into the full Copilot app with a shortcut.
The rollout is gradual, limited to the Experimental channel: build 26340.9616 for version 26H2 and build 28120.3181 for version 26H1. Later in 2026, Microsoft plans inline previews of documents and photos with richer file details, inline web answers for queries like weather, stock prices, or a landmark's height, and filters for categories such as files. Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft's head of Windows and Surface, said the new search experience arrives on Windows 11 devices starting this fall.
Microsoft intends to bring the experience to the Start menu in 2027 and adapt it to different taskbar positions and configurations. Combined with the Windows 11 2026 Update (version 26H2) that began rolling out in late September — 24 months of servicing for Home and Pro, 36 for Enterprise and Education — the company is turning Search from a lookup box into a system-level command center. For keyboard-first users, that could mean adjusting settings and managing windows without ever opening the Settings app.