Microsoft Tests Windows Search Box Without Ads and Fluff
Microsoft is dialing back the ad-heavy, cluttered search interface that frustrated users, simplifying the experience and improving search reliability.
Reporting from 1 source: GIGAZINE.
Microsoft has released an updated Windows search box to Insider Program Experimental participants that removes ads and superfluous content. The new interface shows only recent app, file, and folder searches. Results now clearly indicate their source, web ad content is eliminated, and a setting lets users toggle web and Store suggestions. Search now handles typos and partial words better, and local results are prioritized when relevancy is high.
The redesigned search box is rolling out to a subset of Experimental channel Insiders. Gone are the daily trivia, word of the day, trending searches, and app recommendations that crowded the right side. The new view shows only recently accessed apps, files, and folders. Search results are now labeled by source-local, web, or Store-and web ad content has been removed entirely. A new privacy setting lets users choose whether to show web and Store suggestions alongside local results. Local matches appear above web results when they are more relevant. The search engine also handles misspellings and missing characters better, finds partial words, and supports two-character file name searches. Microsoft says the changes are rolling out gradually and measured.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.