Microsoft just hinted 4 new Windows K2 changes for Windows 11

• Microsoft is working on a faster, simpler, and more customizable Windows 11 context menu.
• Windows Search may gain options to disable web and Microsoft Store results for a cleaner experience.
• The company is pushing WinUI and native app development to improve performance and consistency.
• Windows 11 is gaining a dedicated AI management section that could allow users to view and remove installed AI models.

Microsoft’s Windows K2 initiative is no longer a mystery. We already know the company is working on a number of changes designed to improve Windows 11, including performance optimizations, a redesigned Start menu built with native technologies, a more flexible Taskbar, and other enhancements expected to roll out in future updates.

Some K2-related improvements are even expected to arrive as part of the Windows 11 June 2026 Security Update. However, several additional features have recently surfaced that offer a glimpse of the next wave of changes coming to the operating system.

Microsoft will finally fix the context menu

The Windows 11 context menu has been controversial since the operating system launched in 2021.

Microsoft originally redesigned the experience to reduce years of accumulated clutter and create a cleaner interface. While the visual refresh succeeded in modernizing the menu, many users felt it introduced new problems.

The menu often feels slower than its predecessor. Some options require extra clicks to access, and installed applications can quickly fill the interface with additional entries.

Now, Microsoft engineer Marcus Ash confirmed the company is actively working on improvements that would make the context menu faster, simpler by default, and customizable based on how people use it.

It’s worth noting that Microsoft has already experimented with customization options, including the ability to add or remove AI actions from the context menu through the Settings app.

That statement is significant because it suggests that the company recognizes that the current design still isn’t where it needs to be.

The context menu is one of the most frequently used parts of Windows. Even modest improvements could have a noticeable impact on everyday productivity.

Windows Search may finally become less cluttered

Another recently discovered feature focuses on Windows Search. Microsoft has previewed a new option that would allow users to disable web results from Search during a Windows Insider meetup in San Francisco.

The option will appear under Settings > Privacy & security > Search, where users can turn off suggested web results. The presentation slides also suggest the company may introduce a separate control for Microsoft Store results.

Since the company added Bing integration to Windows Search, users looking for apps, files, or settings have often seen web results alongside local results. For many people, that has made Search feel more cluttered and less useful.

Search works best when it helps users quickly find what’s on their computer. Allowing users to disable web results would make the feature faster, cleaner, and more focused on its original purpose.

More importantly, it would give users the ability to decide how Search works, rather than relying on Microsoft’s default experience.

Microsoft wants more native Windows apps

During Build 2026, Microsoft repeatedly emphasized its commitment to WinUI and native Windows application development.

One of Windows’ biggest strengths has always been its openness. Developers can build applications using virtually any framework they want. While that flexibility helped create one of the largest software ecosystems in the world, it has also resulted in inconsistent experiences across the platform.

Some apps feel fast and deeply integrated with Windows. Others feel like web apps running inside desktop windows.

Microsoft appears determined to change that by improving WinUI, addressing performance issues, and making native development more attractive.

The company’s decision to rebuild parts of Windows itself using WinUI, including the upcoming Start menu experience, suggests this is more than just another developer initiative.

If the company succeeds, users may ultimately benefit from apps that launch faster, consume fewer resources, and feel more consistent throughout the operating system.

AI on Windows 11 may become easier to manage

The fourth feature may be one of the most interesting. In a recent experimental Windows 11 build, Microsoft quietly added a settings page under Settings > System > AI components designed to manage AI models installed on a device.

In this section, each available AI model installed on your computer has a subpage with details, but on the “AI Phi Silica” page, the company is also adding an “Uninstall” option. Whether Microsoft will allow users to uninstall every model is still unclear.

As the company continues integrating AI capabilities throughout Windows 11, transparency will become increasingly important.

A lot of users currently have little visibility into which AI components are installed on their computers, how much storage they consume, or whether those components can be removed.

A dedicated management page won’t solve every concern surrounding AI on Windows 11 or future versions, but it represents an important step toward giving users more information and control.

Common thread behind these changes

What’s most interesting about these four improvements isn’t the features themselves. It’s the pattern they reveal.

Whether it’s a faster context menu, a cleaner Search experience, better native applications, or more transparency around AI, every one of these changes focuses on improving aspects of Windows 11 that users interact with every day.

For years, Microsoft has concentrated on adding new capabilities to Windows 11. The latest K2 initiative shows the company may now be spending more time refining the existing experience.

Pureinfotech’s Take

I don’t think any of these features will convince someone to upgrade to Windows 11 on their own, but that’s not really the point. The context menu, Search, app performance, and AI management are all parts of the operating system that people use regularly. When those experiences feel slow, cluttered, or out of the user’s control, they affect how Windows feels overall.

What I find encouraging is that Microsoft appears to be focusing on real pain points rather than simply adding more features. Windows 11 has gained many new capabilities over the last few years, but many users have continued to ask for improvements to the basics. These K2-related changes suggest the company may finally be paying more attention to those requests.