Microsoft is testing much revamped Search experience on both Windows 11 and Windows 10 with Search highlights. It has also made changes to the right-click behavior in Windows 11 to make it more user-friendly.
The changes were added to the changelog of the Windows 11 insider Build 22572 that Microsoft released to Dev channel recently. One of the major changes that Microsoft is testing now is “Search Highlights” that Microsoft is planning to bring to both Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Search highlights bring major revamp to the Windows search experience. The left side of search home shows an extended list of your recently launched apps, files, settings, and websites. Right side of search home highlights interesting moments in time.
One can also explore additional content in search home related to today’s moment and daily content. If one signs with work or school account, search home will show organization’s files and contacts through Microsoft Search. Search highlights will feature the latest updates from organization and suggested people, files, and more.
Search highlights in Windows 11
Starting early next week, we will begin rolling out an update for Search in Windows 11 that highlights interesting moments in time. Search is right there on your taskbar—your window to discover what’s trending online, in the world, and in your organization. Of course, you can still type to start searching for your apps, files, settings, and quick answers on the web.
The search box in Start and Search will periodically update with content, including fun illustrations, that help you discover more, be connected, and stay productive. These hints in the search box give you a sneak peek into what to expect in search home.
Search highlights will present notable and interesting moments—like holidays, anniversaries, and other educational moments in time both globally and in your region. You’ll find rich, bold content in search home that highlights what’s special about today.
Search on the taskbar showing an updated experience for Earth Day. Includes relevant content and illustration in the search box and content relevant to Earth Day in search home.
To dig deeper, you can explore additional content in search home related to today’s moment and daily content like word of the day, Microsoft Rewards offers, trending searches, and more. Each day features something different to learn about! The left side of search home also shows an extended list of your recently launched apps, files, settings, and websites to help you get back to what you were doing last.
Search on the taskbar showing an updated experience for an organization, Contoso. Includes relevant content and illustration in the search box and the organization’s people chart in search home.
Signing in with your work or school account enables Search to be your one-stop-shop for your organization’s files and contacts through Microsoft Search. Search highlights will feature the latest updates from your organization and suggested people, files, and more. Explore files that may be of interest to you or browse through your organization’s people chart. As always, just start typing to find everything related to your organization, right at your fingertips using Search.
You have control over the search highlights experience where if you prefer not to see this, you can turn it off or back on in Settings > Privacy & security > Search settings and toggling “Show search highlights”. For organization administrators, there are additional controls available in the M365 admin center. You can learn more about those policies here: Policy CSP – Search.
Search highlights is also coming to the Windows 10 search box where you’ll be able to get the same updates in the search box and search home. Stay tuned for more information in an upcoming blog post when we begin trying out this experience with Insiders on Windows 10 in the Release Preview Channel.
This feature will begin rolling out early next week and won’t be available to all Insiders right away as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.
FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Search.
Microsoft has also worked to make right-clicking experience more useful in Windows 11. If you do Shift + right-click in File explorer and the Desktop, it will open the “Show more options” context menu directly now. This saves one click in reaching to the “Show more options” menu.
Shift + Right-clicking in File Explorer and the Desktop will now open the “Show more options” context menu.
The Windows 11 update destined to come out next year will be the version 22H2. As per a new report this update will bring much-desired and currently missing Taskbar features back. It may also bring system-wide Dark mode and many other new features and UI changes.
The Windows 11 version 22H2 update is termed Sun Valley 2 update internally. It may follow the Windows 11 21H2 release date schedule. Read more about Windows 11 version 22H2 new features and release date by clicking here.
