Microsoft adds search bar to desktop in Windows 11 preview build

In preview build 25120 in the Dev Channel, Microsoft is adding the ability to display a search bar on the desktop. According to the developers, the search bar can be used to search for web results.

Microsoft announces the search bar in the preview build as a first step to do more with widgets in the desktop environment. Microsoft wants to add more of this kind of “light, interactive content” to the operating system desktop. The company is not yet giving details about the widgets coming to the Windows 11 desktop in the future.

Microsoft also offers the option to disable the search bar again in this preview build. Users can do that by right clicking on the desktop, going to more options and then unchecking the show search option.

The announcement does not say whether users can also set which search engine uses the search bar or whether it is mandatory to use Bing.