{
  "id": 12863614,
  "title": "Windows Search learns to take orders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/windows-search-learns-to-take-orders-12863614",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-08T11:20:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register",
    "slug": "the-register",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/os-platforms/2026/10/08/windows-search-learns-to-take-orders/5301902"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Microsoft's latest preview of Windows Search introduces faster results, reduced clutter, and a new capability: executing commands. The Actions feature allows users to alter settings directly from the Windows Search interface. For example, typing \"mute\" into the search bar and choosing the resulting action silences the speakers, with a \"Done!\" confirmation. The same process applies to other commands, such as minimizing all windows by typing \"minimise all my windows.\" Windows Search is now more results-oriented, with a cleaner interface and improved handling of typos and synonyms. Future updates will bring inline previews and richer file details to help users differentiate similar results without returning to the separate preview pane. Built on WinUI 3, Microsoft claims significant performance and memory usage improvements. The preview, currently available in English to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel, can be enabled via the Windows Insider Program's Feature flags settings. While faster, less cluttered search results are appreciated, the addition of command execution features raises questions about the tool's original purpose.",
  "summary": "Preview lets users change settings and carry out tasks directly from a tidier results list",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register Science",
        "title": "Windows Search learns to take orders",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/windows-search-learns-to-take-orders",
        "published": "2026-10-08T11:20:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TechRadar",
        "title": "Microsoft promises to make Windows 11 search better — and it's about time",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/microsoft-promises-to-make-windows-11-search-better-and-its-about-time",
        "published": "2026-10-08T11:22:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}