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The days of using Windows Search mostly as an application launcher may be officially numbered. Starting this week, Microsoft is rolling out a fundamentally redesigned Windows Search experience to testers in the Windows Insider Experimental channel.

Built on a modernized WinUI 3 foundation, this new update transforms the familiar taskbar feature into a streamlined, clutter-free command center. The new Search allows users to perform some system tasks, such as toggling dark mode, right from the search results.

From finding to doing

The most significant shift in this update is the introduction of inline actions. Microsoft aims to reduce the friction of everyday tasks by allowing you to complete them directly within the search interface.

If that sounds familiar, it is something that Microsoft had planned for the initial Copilot AI for Windows. While the former never came to fruition, it appears that Microsoft has finally found a way to link user requests to direct actions.

Need to tweak your settings? You can now type phrases like “switch to dark mode,” “dim my screen,” or “turn on Bluetooth” to make immediate adjustments without digging through menus. The new search can even help you manage your workspace, responding to commands like “minimize all my windows” or “arrange windows on screen”.

In the near future, this functionality will expand to include Phone Link integrations, enabling actions like sending a text message from a connected device directly through the search bar.

What’s Ahead

Looking forward to next year, Microsoft plans to bring this new search experience to the Start menu, ensuring it adapts to various taskbar configurations. For now, searches originating from the Start menu will still use the existing interface while Microsoft gathers feedback from Insiders.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a search tool that understands natural language, provides richer in-context information, and integrates deeply with features like Copilot, closing the gap between finding information and taking action.

With testing just getting started, it is too early to tell if the reimagined search is going to be everything that Microsoft hopes it can be. The past has shown us that announcements and implementations do not always go hand in hand. If Microsoft manages to implement more than a few inline actions, it has the potential of becoming a useful feature used by many users of the system.

On the other hand, if there are just ten or so actions, it is probably something that won’t make a big impact.

Microsoft has officially confirmed a known issue in its late-September Windows 11 update that causes certain games, media players, and productivity applications to close unexpectedly.

According to an advisory published on Microsoft’s Windows Release Health dashboard, the bug was introduced with the optional preview update KB5124010 (OS Build 26300.9550), released on September 22, 2026.

Because Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and the newly released 26H2 share a common servicing baseline, all three operating system versions are equally affected by the flaw.

Built-in Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decoder Identified as Root Cause

The stability issues stem from a bug in Windows 11’s built-in AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio decoding component.

According to Microsoft’s technical documentation, the exact symptoms depend on how an application interacts with the system’s audio architecture. In some instances, affected programs fail to launch entirely or terminate without warning during startup.

In other cases, software operates normally until specific audio functions—such as background music playback, in-game sound effects, or volume adjustments—are triggered.

Microsoft notes that the bug predominantly impacts legacy software, including older PC games, standalone media players, and specialized productivity tools that rely directly on the operating system’s native AC-3 decoder.

Most modern applications and recent games remain unaffected, as they typically integrate their own proprietary or third-party audio decoding libraries rather than calling the legacy Windows component.

A Challenging Month for Windows 11 Updates

The AC-3 audio bug follows a series of update regressions throughout September 2026. The regular September Patch Tuesday release (KB5124008 on September 8), which addressed a record 974 security vulnerabilities alongside new user interface features, initially caused issues with Remote Desktop connections and folder sharing in Linux-based virtual machines.

Microsoft deployed an out-of-band emergency patch (KB5129195) on September 14 to resolve those flaws, but that update prevented the built-in Windows File History backup tool from recognizing external and network drives.

The AC-3 audio bug follows a series of update regressions throughout September 2026. The regular September Patch Tuesday release (KB5124008 on September 8), which addressed a record 974 security vulnerabilities alongside new user interface features, initially caused issues with Remote Desktop connections and folder sharing in Linux-based virtual machines. Microsoft subsequently deployed an out-of-band emergency patch (KB5129195) on September 14 to resolve those flaws, but that update inadvertently prevented the built-in Windows File History backup tool from recognizing external and network drives.

Mitigation and Next Steps

Microsoft has not published a specific list of affected software titles, nor has it provided an estimated release date for a permanent patch. The company stated that its engineering team is working on a resolution to be included in a future Windows update. In the meantime, users experiencing sudden crashes in older games or applications can bypass the issue by disabling audio output within the affected software or by uninstalling the optional update KB5124010 via the Windows Update history settings.

Microsoft announced the release of Windows 11, version 26H2 yesterday. The feature update of the year brings only little changes, which is one reason why you should not feel any hurry to install it on your devices, if you run Windows 11.

The good news is that version 26H2 is another light release. It is activated via an enablement package, just like version 25H2 was last year. This means that it installs in a matter of minutes and does not require extended reboots to complete the installation process.

Bad news is that it does not really introduce much of its own that is new and exciting, as Microsoft switched to pushing out most features when they are ready.

So, you can install Windows 11, version 26H2 on devices running Windows 11, version 24H2 or higher by going to Settings > Windows Update, enabling “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available”, and hitting the “check for updates” button, if the update is not displayed right away.

This installs the enablement package and upgrades the version to 26H2. Home users get two years of support with this one, as usual, while Enterprise and Education customers get another year on top of that for that version.

You can also download the enablement packages directly from Microsoft servers to install the update manually. Should work as fine and may be an option for devices where Windows Update refuses to display the update.

Now to the question as to whether it is a good idea to install the update right now. I would say no, it is not in most cases. It does not bring anything revolutionary to the table that can’t wait another month or two.

While Microsoft does not mention any known issues yet, past updates have shown that issues may come to light days or weeks after release. To avoid any issues and prolonged troubleshooting sessions, postpone the installation on most devices, other than for testing.

If you are hellbent on installing it, create a system backup first before you do. This gives you a Microsoft-independent option to restore the system should things go wrong with the installation or during use.