Microsoft is giving Windows Search another round of upgrades, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that the company wants it to do much more than find files and launch applications. The redesigned search experience is gradually turning into a central hub for everyday Windows tasks, with controls for system settings, phone calls, text messages, web information, and even Microsoft Store apps.

The latest additions were announced on October 30 as part of Microsoft’s Windows Insider Preview updates. The changes expand the new Windows Search experience that began rolling out earlier in October, adding more ways to find information and perform quick actions without leaving the search interface.

One of the more interesting additions is the ability to adjust system settings directly through inline sliders. Instead of opening Settings or navigating through the taskbar’s quick settings, users can now adjust screen brightness, volume, and cursor size from within Windows Search. Microsoft is also making these actions more clearly labeled and adding suggestions to help users discover additional capabilities.

In other words, Windows Search is starting to behave less like a traditional search box and more like a lightweight control center.

Windows Search wants to handle your phone calls, too

Microsoft is also expanding the connection between Windows Search and Phone Link. With a supported smartphone connected, users can initiate phone calls, send text messages, and access phone features such as Do Not Disturb directly from search results.

Android users can already try these phone actions in the preview, while iPhone support is planned for early 2027. This is another step toward making Windows a more convenient companion for smartphones, particularly for people who frequently switch between their PC and phone throughout the day.

The integration could save users from repeatedly opening Phone Link just to perform simple tasks. Instead, they can search for the action they want and execute it from the same interface.

Search results are becoming more useful

Beyond system controls and phone integration, Microsoft is making search results considerably richer.

Windows Search can now display previews of supported files, including Word documents and PowerPoint presentations, alongside additional information such as their last modified dates, file locations, and authors. This should make it easier to distinguish between similarly named files without opening each one individually.

Web results are also receiving more attention. Users can get information about weather conditions, stock prices, and general facts directly within Search. Microsoft is additionally bringing Microsoft Store app and game recommendations into the experience, although users can disable these results through Settings > Privacy & security > Search.

There are also new filters that make navigating search results easier. Users can narrow their searches by categories such as Files & Folders, Settings, and Actions, rather than scrolling through an increasingly mixed collection of results.

Microsoft is also giving users more control over the suggestions they see. Right-clicking a result or recommendation now provides thumbs-up and thumbs-down feedback options. Users can also remove individual items from the initial Search view before typing anything.

These changes might seem relatively small, but they address an important part of the experience: making Search more relevant instead of simply giving users more things to look at.

A redesigned foundation for Windows Search

The expanded functionality is part of a broader redesign Microsoft introduced on October 7. The new Windows Search experience is built on WinUI 3, Microsoft’s modern UI framework, with an emphasis on improved performance, lower resource consumption, and a cleaner interface.

Microsoft has also moved away from the previous layout’s large preview pane, bringing results together in a single list that’s easier to scan. The company says its early testing has shown substantial improvements in performance and memory usage, although it hasn’t published specific benchmark figures.

The redesign also brings improvements to how Search interprets queries, including better matching for spelling mistakes and synonyms. Microsoft is effectively trying to make the experience more forgiving when users don’t remember an exact file name or search term.

There’s another interesting design decision worth mentioning. The new Search interface currently opens at the bottom center of the screen, rather than being tied to the traditional taskbar search placement. Microsoft says it’s working on making the experience adapt to different taskbar positions and bringing it to Start menu searches as well.

When can everyone try the new Windows Search?

For now, these features are part of Microsoft’s Windows 11 Insider Preview program, rather than a general release for all Windows users.

The October 30 announcement covers builds distributed through the Beta and Experimental channels, including the Experimental 26H1 channel. However, the new Search experience and its expanded capabilities are specifically listed for the Experimental channels.

As with other Windows Insider features, availability can vary depending on the build, channel, and gradual rollout. Microsoft hasn’t announced a general public release date for the complete experience.

What’s particularly interesting is the direction Microsoft is taking. Windows Search started as a convenient way to locate files, applications, and settings. Now, it’s gradually absorbing functions that traditionally belonged to separate Windows interfaces and applications.

There’s a practical argument for this approach: fewer clicks, less navigation, and quicker access to everyday tasks. But there’s also a balancing act. The more Microsoft adds to Search, the more important it becomes to keep the interface fast, focused, and free from unnecessary clutter.

For now, Windows Search seems determined to become the place where users find things, control their PCs, and get things done. Whether it can do all three without becoming another overloaded Windows feature is something we’ll see as the redesign develops.