Microsoft is overhauling the search box in Windows 11 to make it less cluttered and to let you decide whether you want web results mixed in with your local files and apps. The changes started rolling out to Windows Insider program members on July 13, 2026.

Right now, when you open the search box, you get a jumble of results: files on your computer, apps you have installed, suggestions from Microsoft Store, and links from Bing web search, all mixed together. Microsoft's update lets you turn off the web and Store results entirely, so you only see what is actually on your computer. This is something people have wanted for years, and until now it required digging into system settings or using workaround tools.

The new design also cleans up the appearance. When you search, recent searches appear right away instead of hiding behind menus. Results show more information — like file type or when it was last edited — so you can figure out which file you need without opening each one Engadget. Microsoft is also removing ads and product promotions that used to sit at the top of search results Windows Insider Blog.

Why does this matter. For regular users, the cleaner interface and the ability to hide web results means search actually does what you expect: find things on your computer. For IT departments managing hundreds or thousands of Windows computers in corporations, this change is even more important. They can now turn off web results as a supported feature instead of having to apply manual fixes to each machine.

Microsoft has made several changes to Search Box over the past few years, often after people complained about getting web results when they just wanted local files. This update addresses those complaints more directly than earlier attempts did. That said, what Microsoft sets as the default — whether web results are on or off when you first update — will matter. If web results are on by default, many users will never notice the toggle exists.