New Windows Search Experience With Inline Actions Adds Additional Features for Insiders

Microsoft continues to improve the new Windows Search experience with inline actions it made available for select Insiders earlier this month. The latest Windows 11 preview builds for testers on the Experimental (26H1) and Experimental Channel make more Windows settings, phone controls, and more available right from search results.

The inline action results can now show sliders to adjust volume, screen brightness, or cursor size right from Windows Search. With a supported Android phone connected to Windows 11 via Phone Link, it’s also possible to place phone calls, send text messages, and turn on Do Not Disturb from Windows Search.

Microsoft is also rolling out richer search results with inline previews of Office documents, as well as new filters to find files, apps, and settings more easily. At the moment, this new Windows Search experience opens at the bottom center of the screen by default, but Microsoft is already working to make the experience adapt to other taskbar positions.

In the Experimental (Future Platforms) build 29698.1000, and the Beta build 26220.9836, Microsoft is also introducing permission controls for the camera, microphone, and location on an app-by-app basis. “Our goal is to make privacy permissions easier to understand and manage across the wide range of desktop apps people use every day,” the Windows Insider team said today.

Lastly, the Experimental (26H1) build 28120.3393 improves the full-screen Xbox experience by making key system actions such as Exit to Desktop and Power Options easier to access. In the Experimental build 26340.9843, Microsoft is also testing the addition of Quick Settings to the Gaming Task View navigation bar in Xbox mode.