One of the first things that I disable on Windows 11 PCs is the integrated web search. Microsoft merged local and web search in Windows some years ago mostly for its own benefit.
Web search results generate clicks and revenue for Microsoft. For users, they serve little purpose. Often, they tend to get in the way.
In best case, search returns a matching result that the user can click on. The same can be achieved in any web browser with the added benefit of having extensions and access to numerous search engines.
Microsoft may split local and web search
It seems that Microsoft could soon split the two searches in Windows 11.
The feature appears to be in testing right now in development builds. With it activated, Windows moves web-based searches into a separate tab in the search interface.
This works similarly to how Windows Search separates different types of search data already. You can switch to content-specific tabs, such as Apps or Documents, to get them returned only.
The change is helpful, as it moves web-based results out of the way and restores the focus on local results.
Deskmodder has tested the feature and published several screenshots of how it looks like.
It should help users who do not know how to modify the settings to disable web search, if it bothers them. Experienced users may still want to turn off web search, provided that they have no use for it.
In case you want to give it a try, do the following:
- Download and unpack the latest version of ViVeTool in a development build of Windows 11.
- Run the command from an elevated Terminal prompt: .\vivetool /enable /id:54865932
- Restart the PC.
Note that you need to run it from the ViVeTool directory. Bing Search / App need to be enabled for the change to become visible on the system.
Do you use Windows Search to search the web? Or do you ignore or disable the feature?
Everything by Voidtools takes care of all my search needs in Windows. Among the first things I disable is Windows Search and indexing. This move by Microsoft will not change that.
“With it activated, Windows moves web-based searches into a separate tab in the search interface.”
Is this “tab” always there wether web search is disabled or not?
If I want to search the web, I’ll use a forking browser!
Adding to Bobo’s replay, I disable indexing too. My PC is insanely fast. Indexing doesn’t speed local searches up enough to make it worth using.
+1 for disabling indexing and for using Everything by Voidtools. It’s the first app I install on any new Windows machine.