Windows 11 test builds get smarter search and Xbox tools
Microsoft's latest Windows Insider builds add search filters, actions and phone controls, plus quick settings inside Xbox gaming mode.
The facts
- According to The Verge, the latest Windows 11 Insider builds add new search features and quick settings in Xbox mode.
- Search can be filtered by files, actions or web results, and can change screen brightness or volume. It can also act on a connected phone, including making calls.
- Results can show extra detail such as when a file was last modified and its author, plus charts for stock prices and weather forecasts.
- Beta Build 26220.9836 and Experimental Build 26340.9843 are available now to Windows Insiders.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
Search is turning into a command line for the whole PC. You type, and Windows does the thing. The thumbs-up and thumbs-down buttons also mean you are helping train it, so Microsoft gets feedback for free. For gamers, staying inside Xbox mode while changing Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is a small fix for an annoying habit.
For builders
If your app or service lives on Windows, watch how search actions develop, because they may become a new way for users to reach it. Test on the Insider builds before anything reaches the general release.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from The Verge's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.