Search in Windows 8.1 (Blue) will include a few new tweaks

Search in Windows 8.1 blue

In Windows 8, Microsoft has introduced a new search experience, and while it brought something different from previous versions of Windows, users didn’t feel optimistic in the additional steps that requires to do a specific search. Now the software giant seems to be listening to those feedbacks and is adding a few new tweaks to Search in Windows 8.1 (Blue) to make the experience a bit easier and at the same time incorporating results from the web.

Ever since the folks at Redmond released Windows 8, Search was a feature easy to use, just type the term while in the Start screen (or Windows 8 Key + Q keyboard shortcut) and Windows Search will magically appear, but users will also have to choose between: apps, settings or files, and even pick a specific Windows 8-style app, if they wanted to perform a lookup within an app. So these filters added extra steps that can also, at first, may even confuse new users.

For Windows 8.1, it seems that Microsoft is tweaking this feature. A new article from the WinSuperSite, notes that the software giant will make Search in Windows 8.1 a better integrated full-screen experience, moving out-of-the-way filters (apps, settings, and files). And Microsoft is even adding web results into the Search pane — more than likely powered by Bing.

The new simplified search makes its first appearance in the leaked version of Windows 8.1 (Blue). However the new tweaks aren’t enabled by default, so if you are playing with the early build, you will need to follow some instructions first.

Thus far we’ve seen many changes and features coming in the next upgrade of Windows 8, which also indicates that Microsoft is paying attention to its users and doing necessary improvements to make version 8.1 a more user-friendly and a more integrated experience throughout products. Windows 8.1 Preview is due to be released during the BUILD 2013 developer conference, so we can expect even more tweaks and features coming until then.

Image courtesy of WinSuperSite

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.