Microsoft is preparing to comprehensively renew the search experience of Windows 11, which has been criticized for a long time. The new Windows Search, which the company started testing with Windows Insider users, comes with a structure that runs faster, consumes less system resources and allows various operations to be performed directly from the search screen. Built on WinUI 3 technology, the new interface includes visual changes as well as regulations that increase the accuracy and ease of use of search results. Microsoft aims to reduce the delays experienced especially during searches and to enable users to access the information they need in a shorter time. The new system goes beyond the classic file and application search and allows you to manage different features of Windows from a single point.
Anshul Rawat, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Windows product team, states that speed is at the core of the new Windows Search experience. According to Rawat, the interface developed using WinUI 3 is a product of efforts to modernize the basic components of Windows. In the company’s first tests, significant improvements in performance and memory usage have been achieved. This shows that although the search function is expanded, the load on the system can be reduced. The renewed design features smoother animations, a simplified layout and a large preview area that offers more information about the search results.
Along with the changes in the interface, the way the search engine interprets user queries is also improved. Microsoft aims to provide more accurate results, especially for searches containing spelling errors and queries using synonyms. Thus, users will not need to remember the exact name of the file or application they are looking for. In addition, the new search experience will be able to display some information directly in the results area without redirecting to a separate web page. While in the current Windows Search version, when searching for simple information such as a player’s height, it may take a few seconds for the result prepared via Bing to be displayed, the new interface places such answers directly on the search screen.
New Windows Search gains functionality for launching applications and managing system settings
One of the notable features of the new Windows Search is that it can be used not only to find information but also to perform various operations on the computer. Microsoft is turning the search field into a more functional tool that works similarly to third-party app launchers. Users will be able to perform operations such as turning the Bluetooth connection on and off or activating dark mode by typing commands directly in the search field. In addition, minimizing open windows or placing applications on both sides of the screen are also supported operations. Thus, some tasks that normally require the Settings application or different keyboard shortcuts can be completed through a single interface.
The new search experience demonstrated by Microsoft is similar to modern search interfaces on mobile operating systems such as iOS and Android. Displaying search results directly within the relevant area reduces the need for users to switch between additional windows. Moreover, this approach is not limited to short information taken from the internet. Previews are also offered in the search results for PowerPoint presentations, photos and different file types. Especially users working with a large number of documents will be able to determine the content they are looking for without opening the files one by one.
The new system is planned to make the connection between Windows and smartphones more useful. People using Microsoft’s Phone Link application will be able to perform transactions on their phones from the search area of their computers. For example, when the user writes a command in English asking for a message to be sent to his mother informing him that he will be late, it will be possible for the message to be transmitted through the connected phone. This function shows that Windows Search will not be limited only to applications and settings on the computer. However, it has not yet been explained in detail which languages these commands will support and which features can be used depending on the operating systems of the connected phones.
Microsoft is currently testing the renewed Windows Search interface as part of the Windows Insider program. For this reason, there is no exact date on when the features will be available to all Windows 11 users. The information shared by the company indicates that, after tests, the new search experience may reach a wider user base in the coming months. On the other hand, development work is not limited to the independent search interface. Anshul Rawat states that in the next stage, work is continuing to move the new Windows Search experience to the Start menu and adapt it to different taskbar locations and Windows configurations.
The search feature in Windows 11 currently provides access to applications, local files, settings and web results. However, delays encountered especially in simple queries and the way web results are presented can negatively affect the user experience. The renewed Windows Search includes concrete changes to address some of these problems with lower memory consumption and faster result display. Direct command execution and phone transaction features can also expand the daily usage area of the call. However, the extent to which the new interface will improve compared to the current version will be clearer after the Insider tests are completed and its performance in different hardware configurations is seen.