Microsoft announced in July 2026 that it is testing a stripped-down version of the Windows 11 search menu, removing ads, recommended content, and other distractions. The update is currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel.
The most visible change is a redesigned search home screen that shows only recent searches. Currently, opening the search menu displays recent searches alongside tiles featuring an image of the day, daily quizzes, trending searches, and game recommendations. The test version removes those elements entirely.
Microsoft is also reworking how web results are surfaced. Rather than leading with related products and promotions, the updated search menu will show the “most relevant answer” first. Local files, apps, and settings will be prioritized in results and will “more reliably appear” ahead of web and Microsoft Store recommendations. Users will also have the option to turn off web and Store recommendations entirely through the Settings menu.
Additional changes include improved file metadata display and a file preview panel on the right side of the search menu, making it easier to identify where a result came from. The updated system also handles typos, extra letters, and partial words more effectively, along with unspecified performance improvements.
Microsoft framed the changes as part of an effort to regain user trust and fix Windows. The company has faced criticism over the increasing presence of ads and promotional content in Windows 11’s interface, and this test suggests it may be responding to that feedback. Whether the changes move beyond the Experimental channel has not been announced.
Source: The Verge