Microsoft began a gradual rollout of redesigned Windows 11 taskbar Search to Insiders in the Experimental channel on October 7, 2026. Initially supporting English, the preview adds Inline Actions: natural-language requests that can change selected settings or manage windows from Search.
Windows Search begins an Experimental-channel rollout
The redesigned Search experience is arriving gradually through the Windows Insider Experimental channel. Microsoft’s initial rollout supports English and places the experience on the taskbar.
What Inline Actions can do from Search
Inline Actions cover specific system settings and window-management tasks. You can use them to switch on dark mode, Night light, or Bluetooth, dim the screen, mute audio, minimize windows, or arrange them. The idea is to handle these selected tasks directly from Search rather than navigate through settings or another app.
Microsoft describes Inline Actions as a way to carry out these tasks from Search. Its October 7 announcement does not characterize the feature as AI-powered or specify an NPU requirement.
A single-list layout built on WinUI 3
The redesign presents Search results in one list instead of the large preview pane on the right. Microsoft says it is also improving how Search matches typos and synonyms. The experience is built on WinUI 3, Microsoft’s interface technology.
Microsoft said early testing showed substantial improvements in performance and memory use. The statement is qualitative, rather than a numerical performance result.
File previews, richer file details, web previews, and category filters are part of later stages of Microsoft’s rollout plans.
How Insiders can access the preview
Microsoft lists two preview-build routes: 26340.9616 in the Experimental channel, or 28120.3181 in the Experimental (26H1) channel. These are preview builds, not general-release version numbers.
On a listed build, check for updates in Windows Update. If the New Windows Search Experience feature flag appears, enable it and restart the device.
What Microsoft says is coming later
Microsoft said Phone Link actions were coming soon, including sending a text through a connected device. The announcement also said the company was developing the redesigned Search experience for the Start menu for 2027.
