Windows 11's Search box is being rebuilt to do things, not just find them. In its Windows Insider post for 30 October 2026, Microsoft lists a set of new Search features: sliders for volume and brightness right in the results, calls and texts through a linked phone, file previews, web answers, and filters. The same post adds a policy that lets businesses keep their Feedback Hub reports private.
None of this is on regular Windows 11 PCs yet. It is in preview builds for people enrolled in the Windows Insider Program.
Which builds, and which channels
Microsoft's post lists five builds released on 30 October:
- Beta: Build 26220.9836
- Experimental: Build 26340.9843
- Beta (26H1): Build 28020.3382
- Experimental (26H1): Build 28120.3393
- Experimental (Future Platforms): Build 29698.1000
The detail that matters is which channel gets what. Microsoft files the new Search features under the Experimental and Experimental 26H1 channels, not Beta. The post says they build on an expanded Search experience whose rollout began earlier in October. If you are on the Beta channel and don't see the new Search, that is likely the reason.
What the new Search does
Microsoft's post sorts the changes into five groups.
Inline actions. You can change volume, screen brightness or cursor size with a slider shown in the Search results, without opening Settings. Microsoft says actions are now labelled more clearly, and suggested actions point you to related options.
Phone actions. With a supported phone connected through Phone Link, you can call or text contacts and use actions such as Do Not Disturb from Search. Microsoft says Android support is available now and iPhone support is coming early next year.
Richer results. Search can preview files and show details such as the last modified date, location and author. It also gives web answers for weather, stocks and facts, and shows apps and games from the Microsoft Store. If you don't want Store apps in your results, Microsoft says you can turn them off in Settings > Privacy & security > Search, the same place web results can already be toggled.
Result filters. You can scroll for more results and filter them by Files & Folders, Settings, Actions and other categories.
Feedback controls. You can right-click a result to give it a thumbs up or thumbs down, and remove items from the first Search view before you type anything.
The post also covers placement. The new Search opens at the bottom centre of the screen, and Microsoft says it is working on support for other taskbar positions and for search from the Start menu.
Digital Trends sums up the direction as Microsoft trying to make Search more action-oriented, so it carries out a task instead of pointing you to the setting that does. The outlet also stresses that these features are still being tested, not confirmed for every Windows 11 user.
Private feedback for organisations
The second change is aimed at businesses. Microsoft's post announces an Intune policy that lets commercial customers keep Feedback Hub reports from their users private. When an organisation turns the policy on, feedback "cannot be posted to the public community or shared with users outside the organization." Only Microsoft and users in the same tenant can see it.
Digital Trends describes the same policy as a privacy measure for businesses. Feedback stays available to Microsoft and to people inside the organisation, but no longer reaches the public Feedback Hub community.
What this means if you're not an Insider
For now, nothing changes on your PC. Features in Insider builds can change before they ship, or not ship at all, and Microsoft's post gives no date for a general release. Microsoft says the iPhone side of phone actions is coming early next year. That is the only firm timing in the announcement.
Cole's take: The useful part here is the inline sliders and the filters. Both cut out a routine that, to my mind, a lot of people repeat far too often: open Search, find the setting, click through to Settings, then change it. Web answers and Store results in a local search box are a different matter. They add noise to a tool most people use to find files and apps. That's why I think the toggles matter as much as the features. Letting Store results be switched off in Settings > Privacy & security > Search, alongside web results, is the right call, and I'd want that switch easy to find when this reaches everyone.
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