Good news for Windows 11: Microsoft is banning advertising from search

Microsoft is fundamentally redesigning the search in Windows 11. The operating system loses advertising, forced web results and Bing integrations in the search window. Instead, users get faster, local file searches with more customization options.

Microsoft is cleaning up Windows Search

It’s news that many Windows 11 users have certainly been waiting for for a long time, because they will receive a fundamentally revised search function. Microsoft has announced that it will gradually remove disruptive elements from the search menu (initially in the experimental channel). The developers’ goal is faster and clearer operation that brings local files and installed applications to the foreground. The previous search homepage was very overloaded. In the future, the operating system will do without tiles such as the picture of the day, game recommendations or daily quiz questions. Instead, users only see their most recent search queries when they open it. In addition, the system is much more forgiving of typos: If you accidentally search for “utlook,” the Outlook email program will be suggested as intended.

More control in settings

As the company said in a post on the Windows Blog explains, user feedback flows directly into the update. A key innovation is the ability to completely deactivate suggestions from the web and the Microsoft Store in the data protection settings. If online searches continue to be used, the provider will now refrain from sponsored product placements.

Reducing local content brings noticeable performance benefits. Without constant connection to web-based Bing services, the user interface responds more quickly and uses less memory. The changes relieve the burden on older computers that previously showed delays in search queries. Metadata such as file paths or change dates are clearly displayed in a preview view. In addition, connected cloud documents from OneDrive are seamlessly integrated into the local hit list. This means users can find their saved files more quickly without having to open separate browser windows. The integration of cloud services is discreet and subordinate to the primary local file search. This makes it easier to access important work documents directly.

Visual emptiness in the search window

However, removing the advertising tiles also creates unused space in the search window. Since the menu shares dimensions with the start menu, the design still appears quite disproportionate. Microsoft says it is planning further adjustments to the graphical interface in order to use the space better and more sensibly in the future. The test phase in the Insider program is expected to last several weeks. It is currently unclear when exactly the final update will reach regular computers outside of the test program.