Microsoft has updated the Microsoft Insider Preview Dev channel with a new build, 25120, and added widgets to the Desktop area. Devices enrolled in the Microsoft Insider Preview program will start seeing a search box on their desktop that enables them to search the web.
The Desktop Search box is the first such object that appears on the Desktop, outside of the Widgets panel. Bing powers the Windows 11 desktop search box that you can use to query the web, documents, and other content right from your desktop. When you start typing your search term in the desktop search box, it will query Bing for possible suggestions and display it in Bing and Microsoft Edge’s new tab. However, there is no option to change the search engine or web browser. Perhaps we won’t see them even if this experimental feature reaches the stable version of Windows 11.
In this gearupwindows article, we will guide you on showing and hiding the Desktop Search widget in Windows 11.
How to Enable the Desktop Search Box in Windows 11?
To turn on or display the desktop search widget in Windows 11, use the following steps:-
Step 1. Right-click on the blank space on the Desktop and select Show more options.
Step 2. Then, check the item Show search in the classic context menu.
Once you complete the above steps, the Search bar will appear on your Windows 11 Desktop.
How to Disable the Desktop Search box in Windows 11?
To turn off or hide the desktop search box in Windows 11, use the following steps:-
Step 1. Right-click on the free space on the Desktop and select Show more options.
Step 2. Then, uncheck the Show search in the classic context menu.
Once you complete the above steps, the Search bar will disappear from your Windows 11 Desktop.
How to Enable the “Show search” option in Context Menu?
Microsoft is testing the “Show search” function with limited Windows 11 users. Chances are there, you may not find this option in Context Menu, and you will be unable to use this function. If you can’t wait for this feature, you can use ViVeTool, which brings back the “Show search” function on your Windows 11 machine.
To bring back the “Show search” item on your Windows 11 classic context menu, use these steps:-
Step 1. First, download the latest version of ViVeTool from GitHub.
Step 2. Then, move the downloaded file to the “C” drive.
Step 3. Now, right-click on the ViVeTool ZIP archive and select Extract All.
Step 4. Click the Extract button.
Step 5. Next, rename the extracted folder to ViVeTool.
Step 6. Now, open the elevated Command Prompt and type the following:-
c:\vivetool\vivetool addconfig 37969115 2
Step 7. Hit, Enter key on the keyboard.
Step 8. Finally, reboot your computer to see the “Show search” item in the context menu.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Microsoft has added a new build, 25120, to the Microsoft Insider Preview Dev channel, which includes the Desktop Search box powered by Bing. This feature allows users to search the web, documents, and other content directly from their Windows 11 desktop. Although there is no option to change the search engine or web browser, users can easily enable or disable the Desktop Search box by following the simple steps mentioned in this gearupwindows article. Additionally, users who cannot find the “Show search” function in the context menu can use ViVeTool to bring back this option on their Windows 11 machine. Overall, this new feature provides users with a convenient and efficient way to search for information right from their desktops.
