14 DAY TRIAL // One of the biggest new features in the latest preview build of Windows 11 is called search highlights, and it’s essentially a way to make the search UI provide more useful information to the user without any input on their side.
In other words, the search highlights are supposed to make content discovery more straightforward by bringing information like holidays, top searches, and images from all over the web right to the search UI.
“The taskbar search box and search home will periodically update with content, including fun illustrations, which help you discover more, be connected, and stay productive. Search highlights will present notable and interesting moments of what’s special about each day—like holidays, anniversaries, and other educational moments in time both globally and in your region,” Microsoft explains.
How to disable the search highlights
For many users, however, this feature only makes the search UI more cluttered, so it goes without saying that disabling it is something that makes sense for them.
The good news is that Microsoft is indeed providing users with options to turn off this new experience, and they are obviously located in the Settings app.
Just right-click the taskbar and go Search. Next, you should see an option called Show search highlights, so change its settings based on your preferences.
Microsoft, however, hopes you wouldn’t do this because the search experience overall isn’t by any means impacted by the new highlights.
“Search is right there on your taskbar—your window to discover what’s trending online, in the world, and in your organization. Of course, you can still type to start searching for your apps, files, settings, and quick answers on the web,” the company explains.
At this point, the feature is only available for Windows 10 and Windows 11 insiders, but it will probably launch for everybody sooner rather than later.