Microsoft has started rolling out a redesigned Windows Search experience to Windows Insiders that can carry out actions, such as switching to dark mode or snapping windows, directly from the search box on the taskbar in Windows 11.

The company announced the change in a Windows Insider Blog post on October 7, 2026, and says the rollout is gradual and limited to the Experimental channel for now.

The new search is rebuilt on WinUI 3, which Microsoft says makes it faster and more efficient with system resources. It also drops the familiar layout with a results list on the left and a preview pane on the right. A single list now groups all results together, a decision Microsoft explains by noting that most clicks in Windows Search come from that left-hand list anyway.

Inline actions are the main addition. Instead of returning a link to a Settings page, the new search executes a request typed in plain language. Microsoft lists these examples in the announcement:

• toggling settings with requests like "switch to dark mode," "turn on night light," or "turn on Bluetooth"
• making quick adjustments such as "dim my screen" or "mute"
• managing windows by minimizing all open windows or arranging and snapping them
• sending a text through a phone connected with Phone Link, which Microsoft says is coming soon

Search is also getting better at handling typos and synonyms. Microsoft plans to keep tuning that behavior over the coming weeks.

More is planned for later in 2026: inline previews of documents and photos with richer file details, inline web answers for queries such as weather, stock prices, or the height of a landmark, and filters for categories like files. In 2027, Microsoft intends to bring the experience to the Start menu and adapt it to different taskbar positions and configurations.

Searches started from Start keep the current experience during the early previews. Copilot integration is mentioned only as a direction, without any details.

The redesigned search requires build 26340.9616 in the Experimental channel or build 28120.3181 in the Experimental 26H1 channel, and it supports English only in this first release. Insiders on a qualifying build turn it on with a feature flag:

1. Install the qualifying build, open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, and restart the PC.
2. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program > Feature flags.
3. Enable the "New Windows Search Experience" flag.

The flag only appears after the update check and restart, according to Microsoft. Feedback goes through Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Desktop Environment > Search.

The announcement does not say whether queries and actions are processed locally or in the cloud, and it lists no privacy details or hardware requirements. Microsoft has also not given a date for the new search to reach stable versions of Windows 11.