Forum Discussion
Strange behaviour of Windows search box on taskbar
As of today I've noticed some very strange behaviour of the Windows search box. Previously, when I clicked in the box, I got "suggested" (left), "quick searches" (top right) and "top apps" (bottom right) as shown in the first image below. But today I started getting just "recent searches" as shown in the second image. I tried a different computer that hadn't been updated recently and got the previous appearance, but when I updated it using Windows Update I got the behaviour just described. I tried uninstalling some of the updates applied today (KB5129195, KB5126052, KB5120708 being the only ones I was allowed to uninstall) and nothing changed. However, on starting the computer somewhat later the original appearance was restored. I reinstalled KB5129195 and KB5126052 (I wasn't given the opportunity to reinstall KB5120708) and again all was OK until the computer connected to WiFi, when it again showed just "recent searches". A third computer, not updated for a month or more, consistently behaves as it always has. I'm totally mystified by this; certainly, as far as the "different computer" mentioned earlier is concerned, I changed no system settings during the process described above. No attention should be paid to the different background colours of the two images below as they came from different PCs.
I'd greatly appreciate any advice on how to restore the original appearance, please. I should add that, on the PC where I first observed the problem, I have tried the standard fixes including running SFC and DISM, starting and stopping explorer, starting and stopping the Windows Search Host Process and restarting indexing. None of these had any effect whatsoever.
6 Replies
Arriving late to the party, I'm seeing the same effect: on two machines, both on 26H2 (26300.9711) and Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.372.0, one machine shows an "old" search flyout layout with sections for Recent (rather than Suggested in my case), Quick searches, and Top apps, and one a "new" version showing just Recent searches only. So, very similar to NH1977's screenshots. Preview seems to work slightly differently in the two versions, and Settings/Privacy & security/Search has toggles to show Web Searches and Microsoft Store only with the "new" version. Maybe https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2026/07/13/improving-windows-search-box-with-less-clutter-and-more-control/ gives a hint of what is going on, if not exactly how it is happening.
Has anyone submitted an entry on Feedback Hub that others might upvote or comment on?
I tried SelinaKnow's suggestions. First of all, both PCs are signed in with a local account and the region/language settings are English UK on both.
I executed the Powershell command on both:
On the one with the changed behaviour, it reports the version as 1000.26100.360.0 and on the other it is 1000.26100.344.0, and there are no other differences apart from the corresponding one in the package full name. Those version numbers match the "Windows Experience Pack" version in Settings->System->About. Both PCs are running Windows 11 Home 25H2 but the version is 26200.9457 on the one with the changed behaviour and 26200.9168 on the other. Thus it seems to me that one of the recent updates has changed the Windows Experience Pack ; however, the only updates installed recently are all shown as security updates, and one would not expect them to introduce such a change. I will look into submitting things via the Feedback Hub when I have time.
Because the layout changed when the PCs contacted the network and later changed back without repairing Windows, this looks more like a service-controlled Search Home experiment than an indexing failure. The local index determines what files and apps are found; it does not normally decide which promotional or suggestion cards appear before a search is entered.
I would compare the Windows build and the Search component package on the affected and unaffected PCs. In PowerShell, run Get-AppxPackage MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS and record the Version value. Also record whether each machine uses a local account and the region/language settings. Do not delete Search packages or apply registry changes just to force an older card arrangement.
Submit the two screenshots through Feedback Hub under Search, include the package version and the time the layout changed, and use "Recreate my problem" while opening the search panel. If searching itself works, there may be no supported local switch to restore the previous home layout; the actionable request is for Microsoft to expose a setting instead of changing the card layout remotely.
The same thing as NH1977 happened to me. Those pictures are the same as what I now see as well. I, too, followed Jamony's instructions and do not have a "Search Permissions" option. Anybody else have a suggestion as to how to restore back to the original look as shown in NH1977's first picture??
Sorry, but I can't find such a setting. If I go to Settings->Privacy & Security there is no option "Search Permissions". If I select "Search" then the options I see are "search history" (on), "show suggested search results" (off for web results and on for Microsoft Store), "search my accounts" (off), "find my files" (doesn't do anything if clicked and doesn't show anything) followed by many "related resources". This is true on all three machines. Maybe I should add that they are all signed in with local rather than Microsoft accounts, and that the situation changing when WiFi connected may perhaps have been coincidental.
The older Search Home layout returning offline, then changing after Wi-Fi connects, strongly suggests cloud-delivered Search content rather than a damaged index. Search highlights and other web-backed suggestions can change independently of a cumulative update, so SFC, DISM, and rebuilding the index would not restore a particular layout. Check Settings > Privacy & security > Search permissions, expand More settings, and toggle Show search highlights off; sign out, then turn it back on if you want dynamic content. On managed Pro, Enterprise, or Education devices, also check “Allow search highlights” under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search; policy overrides the personal setting. Compare it on all three PCs. If Search works but still shows only recent searches, the card arrangement is likely server-side, and Microsoft documents no supported switch that forces the previous layout. Report the before-and-after screenshots through Feedback Hub.
