Microsoft improves Windows 11 search with even more things you might not need
This week, Microsoft introduced the new featured search feature in the Insider build released for its Windows 11 operating system. Search highlights extend the operating system’s search functionality with “remarkable and interesting moments” that highlight what’s “special.” » about the day or the content of the organizations.
Search Highlights significantly changes the Windows Search start page. Currently, Windows 11 users get a list of the best apps to launch directly and quick search links that open web results.
Under the new Windows Search start interface, users get a larger list of recently opened apps and an even larger area of Microsoft-provided content. Users who are not signed in to a work or school account get web content, such as trending searches, as well as global or regional daily highlights.
The search box in Home and Search will be regularly updated with content, including fun illustrations, to help you discover more, stay connected, and stay productive. These suggestions in the search box give you a sneak peek at what to expect in the startup search.
Search highlights will feature notable and interesting moments, such as holidays, anniversaries, and other educational moments in time, both globally and in your region. You’ll find rich, bold content on the search home page that highlights what’s special about today.
Users signed in with a work or school account return the organization’s files and contacts on the main search page.
Search highlights will include the latest updates from your organization and suggestions for people, files, and more. Browse through files that may be of interest to you, or browse your organization’s people graph. As always, just start typing to find everything related to your organization, right at your fingertips through Search.
Windows administrators can turn off the new featured search feature in Settings > Privacy and security > Search settings > Show featured search. Organization admins find additional options in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Microsoft plans to push featured searches for users of its Windows 10 operating system in the future as well.
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Search Highlights, at least the variant for Windows 11 home systems, is Microsoft’s latest effort to bring more web content to its operating systems. How useful is the new experience? Considering that the main function of search is to find content, it seems to fall into the least useful category, even for users who perform web searches from the Windows search interface.
While it’s possible to disable search highlights, generally, most users will keep features like this enabled unless they become too annoying or in the way.
Windows users who want Search to focus on local results find Featured Search another feature they might want to turn off.
Now you: Will it keep featured search enabled or disable it?
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