Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel can now change common system settings straight from the taskbar search box, in many cases without opening the Settings app. The new Windows Search, which Microsoft first showed off in October, is gradually rolling out with Build 26320.9876. That build also moves the Beta Channel to Windows 11 26H2 through an enablement package, though Microsoft says the version bump alone doesn't change much. The headline feature is what Microsoft calls inline actions. Typing something like "turn on dark mode", "turn on Bluetooth", "mute", or "dim my screen" gives a result that carries out the task right there, and it can also arrange open windows, for example snapping two apps side by side.

The new interface is built on WinUI 3, and Microsoft says it is faster and more efficient than the old one, with a single list of results that's easier to scan. Search is also apparently getting better at handling typos and synonyms, and Microsoft plans to keep tuning that over the coming weeks. There are a few limits for now. English is the only supported language, and the new experience only shows up when searching from the taskbar, since searching from the Start menu still opens the old interface. Microsoft says bringing it to the Start menu is planned for next year, and actions for a connected phone, such as sending a text, are also on the way.