Microsoft is testing Windows Search without all the ads and fluff

Microsoft is testing a cleaner version of the Windows 11 search menu that removes recommended content and ads. In a blog post on Monday, Microsoft has announced that it is releasing the broken Search Box to Windows Insiders in a testing process that the company looks like. regain trust with users and to repair Windows.

One of the biggest changes is your updated search engine which only shows your most recent searches. Currently, when you open search, it displays your recent searches along with a series of tiles on the right side of the page, which includes things like the photo of the day, daily quizzes, long-term searches, and game suggestions.

Microsoft is also cleaning up the web results, as the search results list shows the “most important answer” first, instead of showing “products and ads.”

Aside from the reduction, Microsoft is testing other popular changes to its search engine. It will display the metadata clearly, as well as a preview of the file in the right column of the search menu, making it easy to find out where the results came from. The Windows 11 search engine will also prioritize results from your local files, programs, and settings, which will “look more reliable” ahead of the Internet and Microsoft Store recommendations. Testers can now turn off both Online and Store preferences from Settings.

There are also a number of live updates, as Microsoft says that the search engine it’s testing can better handle typos, extra characters, and less words, while offering other improvements.