Windows 11 search trial removes ads and recommendation tiles

Microsoft is testing a stripped-down Windows 11 search menu that removes ads and recommended content, the company said Monday. The change matters because it targets one of the visible places where Windows has mixed local search with web-style extras.

In a Windows Insider blog post, Microsoft said the revised Search Box is rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel. The test gives those users a cleaner search home screen before any wider release.

The main change is what appears when a user opens search. Microsoft said the updated view shows recent searches, rather than filling the panel with additional suggested material.

The current Windows 11 search menu places recent searches alongside a right-side panel of tiles, according to The Verge. Those tiles can include items such as an image of the day, daily quizzes, trending searches and game recommendations.

A quieter search home screen

The Verge reported that the experimental version removes that clutter from the search home screen. Microsoft is presenting the change as an effort to give users more control over the Search Box.

The test follows broader scrutiny of Windows 11’s direction. The Verge has reported that Microsoft is trying to rebuild user trust and address complaints about Windows, including how much promotional and recommended material appears in the operating system.

Microsoft has not announced a general release date for the redesigned search experience. For now, the cleaner Search Box is limited to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel, where Microsoft tests changes before deciding whether to bring them to more users.

This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.