According to TheRegister.com, Microsoft is testing a major change to Windows 11 that replaces the traditional search box with an “Ask Copilot anything” interface in the latest Insider Dev and Beta builds starting from version 26220.7051. The feature is off by default and requires users to first join the Windows Insider Program, then use a third-party tool called ViveTool to enable hidden features before finally toggling the option in Settings. The new search box displays both traditional file results and Copilot prompts as you type, but testing revealed inconsistencies like failing to find system files that regular search locates. Clicking Copilot responses opens the full Copilot app, while the glasses icon activates Copilot Vision for screen analysis. The microphone icon enables voice interactions by default, similar to the “Hey Copilot” wake word feature.
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Why this feels forced
Here’s the thing: this doesn’t feel like a genuine improvement to the search experience. It feels like Microsoft is cramming Copilot into yet another part of Windows whether users want it or not. The mixed results are confusing – when you search for something, you’re never quite sure whether you’ll get actual files or just a prompt to ask the AI. And that floating dialog box that appears in the middle of the screen? It’s genuinely disruptive to workflow, especially if you’re used to having your search results appear predictably.
The technical hurdles
Basically, Microsoft has made this so difficult to enable that it’s clearly not ready for prime time. You need to be on specific Insider builds, download third-party tools, run command prompts as administrator, and reboot your system. That’s four separate steps just to test a feature that may or may not work properly. When The Register tested Copilot Vision’s ability to count desktop icons, it was off by more than 100% – claiming 9 icons when there were actually 22. So much for AI accuracy.
What this means for users
Look, I get that Microsoft wants to push its AI everywhere. But replacing a perfectly functional search system with a half-baked AI integration feels like a solution in search of a problem. The traditional search box still exists in the Start menu, which suggests even Microsoft knows this might not be ready. For now, I’d recommend sticking with regular search. Let’s hope this never becomes the default experience for people who just want to find their files without AI interference.
