Windows Search learns to take orders

Microsoft's latest Windows Search preview introduces faster results, reduced clutter, and the ability to execute commands like muting audio or minimizing windows. Following July's enhancements, the new preview was released yesterday. The Actions feature enables users to adjust settings directly from the Windows Search. Typing "mute" into the search box and selecting the action silences the speakers, followed by a "Done!" message.

The same applies to other actions, as demonstrated by minimizing all windows to activate the Show Desktop function. Windows Search now prioritizes results over a large preview pane, and improved typo and synonym handling are in place, though more refinement is required (e.g., "turn on" and "switch on" were misunderstood). Inline previews and enhanced file details are expected later this year to assist users in differentiating similar results without restoring the separate preview pane.

The Windows Search experience is powered by WinUI 3, with Microsoft claiming substantial performance and memory usage improvements. However, this preview remains English-only, gradually rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel. Eligible users can enable it sooner via the Windows Insider Program's Feature flags settings.

Faster and less cluttered search results are appreciated in a tool often criticized, but the idea of using the Search box as a command launcher remains debatable.