Microsoft is adding (*10*) new feature to the Windows 11 taskbar, but it's probably not what you expected. While many of us expected drag and drop and the ability to resize and move would be added to Windows 11's fairly basic taskbar, Microsoft is about to add (*10*) Windows 10-like search bar of Windows 11.
According to the latest reports from Windows (opens in (*10*) new tab), a screenshot has appeared (*10*) showing a new "Search" box.
It's on the left side of the taskbar. It's smaller than the Windows 10 search box and blends better with the overall look and feel of Windows 11, but we hope it works the same way.
Therefore, you can use it to search for (*10*) an application or a document on your computer, or a website or a term on the Internet. According to Windows Latest, the search bar is being tested internally and there is currently no indication of when we can expect to see it in Windows 11.
Analysis: Who Really Wants This?
The fact that instead of responding to people's complaints about the restricted taskbar in Windows 11, it appears that Microsoft is messing around with unwanted new features is frustrating for a number of reasons.
For starters, the Windows 11 taskbar lacks several features found in previous versions, such as the ability to drag and drop files onto (*10*) a pinned app to open them. You also cannot resize the taskbar or move it to the side of the screen. These are features that people have been asking for since the release of Windows 11.
However, what people haven't asked for is a search box. The Windows 10 search box was not very popular and many people found that it was often trying to bring you results online, when all you were trying to do was search for a document saved on your PC. .
The fact that the search box also pushes you to use Microsoft's Bing search engine, as well as its Edge web browser, regardless of its default settings, also didn't go over well with people.
Adding a search box to the Windows 11 taskbar also seems unnecessary as there is already a search icon. Clicking it will open Windows 11 search, along with a search box. You can also search from the Windows 11 Start menu.
So no other way to search from the taskbar is really necessary. You also run the risk of cluttering the taskbar with more unwanted icons.
So why would Microsoft add this? Well, for starters, remember this is (*10*) early testing and may never see the light of day. If it does appear, Microsoft may remove some of the other search methods from the taskbar, which will prevent cluttering the taskbar with redundant search tools.
Unfortunately, I also think this is the (*10*) feature that will benefit Microsoft more than Windows 11 users. Microsoft.
This is not the first time that Microsoft has added (*10*) functionality that benefits Microsoft, not its customers, and it never works well.