Windows 11 New Search in Insider Builds: Sliders, Phone Calls and More
Microsoft’s latest Experimental Insider builds turn Windows Search into a mini control centre. Here’s what’s new, how to try it and when you might get it.
Image: TeQBlogs
Microsoft released new Windows 11 Insider builds on 30 October 2026, and the big news is a much smarter Windows Search. In the Experimental channel builds, search can now change your volume or brightness with inline sliders, call or text your contacts through Phone Link, show file previews and web answers, and filter results by type. It is still a preview for Insiders only, and Microsoft has not given a date for regular Windows 11 users.
Quick summary
- Release date: 30 October 2026
- New Search lands in: Experimental (Build 26340.9843) and Experimental 26H1 (Build 28120.3393)
- Beta builds: 26220.9836 and 28020.3382, which do not get the new Search in this release
- Phone actions: Android works now; iPhone support is “coming early next year”
- Settings toggle: Settings > Privacy & security > Search
- For businesses: a new Intune policy keeps Feedback Hub submissions private to your organisation
Which builds Microsoft released on 30 October 2026
Microsoft now runs its Windows Insider Program with two main channels. Experimental replaced the old Dev and Canary channels and gets features that are still being built. Beta replaced the old Beta Channel and previews what Microsoft plans to ship in the coming weeks. Here is what arrived this week.
| Channel | Build | Headline change |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 26220.9836 | Per-app camera, microphone and location controls for desktop apps, a Magnifier shortcut toggle and other fixes |
| Experimental | 26340.9843 | Expanded new Windows Search |
| Beta (26H1) | 28020.3382 | See official release notes |
| Experimental (26H1) | 28120.3393 | Expanded new Windows Search |
| Experimental (Future Platforms) | 29698.1000 | See official release notes |
The new Search first started rolling out to Experimental Insiders on 7 October 2026. This week’s builds add many of the features people asked for in that first preview.
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What’s new in Windows Search
Microsoft’s idea is simple: search should not only find things, it should help you do things without opening another window. These are the changes in the Experimental builds.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Inline sliders | Change volume, screen brightness and cursor size straight from the results |
| Clearer actions | Actions are labelled more clearly, and suggested actions show you what else you can do |
| Phone actions | Call or text a contact and use actions like Do Not Disturb on a phone connected through Phone Link |
| File previews | See details such as last modified date, location and author before opening a file |
| Web answers | Quick answers for weather, stocks and facts |
| Store results | Microsoft Store apps and games appear in results |
| Result filters | Scroll for more results and filter by Files & Folders, Settings, Actions and more |
| Feedback controls | Right-click a result for thumbs up or thumbs down, and remove items from the starting view |
| New position | Search opens at the bottom centre of the screen |
Microsoft says it is still working on making Search adapt to different taskbar positions and on making it work when you search from the Start menu. For now, the old search can still appear when you search from Start.
How to try the new Windows Search
Preview builds can have bugs, so use a spare PC or back up your files first. You need a licensed copy of Windows 11 and an administrator account on the PC.
Step 1: Join the Windows Insider Program
- Register on the Windows Insider website with your Microsoft account (the one you use for Outlook, OneDrive or Microsoft 365) and accept the Program Agreement.
- On your PC, open Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.
- If asked, select Open Diagnostics & feedback and turn Send optional diagnostic data on, then go back.
- Select Get started, link the Microsoft account you registered with and select Continue.
- Choose the Experimental channel, because the new Search is only in Experimental right now.
- Accept the agreement and select Restart now.
- After the restart, go to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
Step 2: Turn on the feature flag if you don’t see it
Microsoft is rolling the new Search out gradually, so not every Insider sees it at once. Experimental Insiders can skip the wait. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program > Feature flags and look for New Windows Search Experience. Microsoft says the flag shows up only after you have updated to a recent Experimental build and restarted, so check for updates first.
One more point: in its first preview, Microsoft said the new Search supports English. If your PC uses another display language, you may need to wait longer.
How to use each new Search feature
Adjust volume, brightness or cursor size
Click the search box on the taskbar and type something like “volume”, “brightness” or “cursor size”. A slider appears right in the results. Drag it, and the change happens at once, with no trip into Settings.
Call, text or silence your phone
First connect your Android phone to the PC with the Phone Link app. Then type a contact’s name in Search to see call and text options, or search for Do Not Disturb to turn it on for your phone. iPhone users will have to wait, as Microsoft says iPhone support is coming early next year.
Preview files and filter results
Search for a document and the preview shows when it was last changed, where it is saved and who wrote it. That is handy when you have three files called “Final Report”. If the list is long, scroll down for more results or use the filters, such as Files & Folders, Settings or Actions, to narrow it.
Control web and Store results
Some people like weather and stock answers in Search; others want only local results. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Search to turn web results and Microsoft Store app results on or off.
Teach Search what you like
Right-click any result or suggestion and give it a thumbs up or thumbs down. You can also remove items you never use from the starting view, before you even type. For detailed feedback, press Windows key + F to open Feedback Hub and pick Desktop Environment > Search.
New Intune policy for private Feedback Hub posts
This change is for companies. Microsoft has added an Intune policy that keeps Feedback Hub submissions from employees inside the organisation. When an IT admin turns it on, feedback cannot be posted to the public community or shared with people outside the company. Only Microsoft and users in the same tenant can see it. This is useful for firms that worry about staff accidentally sharing internal details in public feedback posts. Microsoft has more details in its Feedback Hub release notes for October 2026.
When will regular Windows 11 users get it?
Microsoft has not announced a release date. The new Search is still in the Experimental channel, and Microsoft warns that Experimental features “may change, get delayed, or not ship at all”. It has not reached the Beta channel yet, and Beta is where Microsoft previews what it plans to ship in the coming weeks. Microsoft has also said Start menu integration is work for next year. Any date you see elsewhere is a guess, not an official plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the new Windows Search available on normal Windows 11?
No. As of 30 October 2026 it is only in Experimental channel Insider builds 26340.9843 and 28120.3393, and it is rolling out gradually even there.
Does it work with iPhone?
Not yet. Phone actions work with Android phones connected through Phone Link. Microsoft says iPhone support is coming early next year.
Can I turn off web results in Search?
Yes. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Search and switch off web results or Microsoft Store results.
Can I leave the Insider Program later?
Yes. Microsoft says most Insider builds now support an in-place upgrade to leave the program or switch channels on the same Windows version, keeping your apps and files. The Future Platforms option still needs a clean install.
Bottom line
The new Windows Search is turning into a small control centre: sliders, phone calls, file previews and filters, all from one box at the bottom of your screen. If you enjoy testing new features and have a spare PC, join the Experimental channel and switch on the feature flag. Everyone else should wait. Microsoft has not promised a date, and features can still change before they reach your laptop.
Sources
- Windows Insider Blog: Announcing new builds for 30 October 2026
- Windows Insider Blog: From searching to doing, building a faster, more streamlined Windows Search
- Microsoft Learn: Experimental Preview Build 26340.9843 release notes
- Microsoft Learn: Get started with the Windows Insider Program
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