A look at Search changes in Windows 10 version 1903

Martin Brinkmann
Nov 14, 2018
Search, Windows, Windows 10
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16

Microsoft released the October 2018 Update yesterday on the November 2018 Patch Tuesday; while the update was delayed quite a bit because of issues that were not detected in time before it was published briefly on Windows Update, work on the next feature update continued unhindered in the six weeks that Microsoft needed to sort things out.

The first feature update for Windows 10 in 2019 may feature search changes. May, because things are still under development and it is possible that Microsoft will throw them overboard entirely or change them before the first feature update of 2019 is released globally.

You can see some of these changes already when you run a recent Insider build of Windows 10.

Basically, what Microsoft considers for the new feature update, is to separate Cortana more from Search.

Cortana won't go away, however, and is still used when it comes to voice search functionality. Search itself continues to search local and Internet content by default.

Tip: you can disable web search in Windows 10 easily.

A click on the search field of the taskbar in a recent Insider build of Windows 10 displays a new search interface and next to it an option to open Cortana for voice searches and other activity.

The interface itself replicates the search interface of Windows 10 version 1809 for now; the list of recent activity is displayed when you activate search. The filters at the top, to display only programs, documents, or web results among other things, are displayed right away in the new version.

windows 10 1903 search

A click on the menu displays a link to the indexing options to manage Windows Search locations or unlock global search indexing, a new option that Microsoft calls enhanced search mode that was added recently.

A right-click on the taskbar of the operating system displays a new Cortana menu (previously named Search). You may use it to switch between the search field and Cortana icon, and to hide the entire search field in the taskbar.

Search functionality is available in the Start menu as well. Just activate Start and start typing to run a search on the system.

Closing Words

Microsoft improved search quite a bit in recent versions of Windows 10 but it is still basic when compared to third-party search tools especially if you are looking for specific files. Programs like Wizfile or Everything  are faster, offer better options and better when it comes to finding files on the system.

Now You: Do you use Windows Search or a third-party program? (via Deskmodder)

Summary
A look at Search changes in Windows 10 version 1903
Article Name
A look at Search changes in Windows 10 version 1903
Description
The first feature update for Windows 10 in 2019 may feature search changes, and here especially a separation between Cortana and Search.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. 420 said on November 15, 2018 at 1:45 am
    Reply

    well as far as I know there is only 2 ways to put windows 10 on a device

    1. download an iso from microsoft which for the first time ever won’t burn on a regular dvd

    2. use media creation tool to put on usb stick

    so if I am installing the latest windows 10 on someones device, I like to give them media so they can do it themselves in the future. So i am supposed to pay for usb sticks to give away instead of 10 cent dvds?

  2. neil said on November 14, 2018 at 9:27 pm
    Reply

    windows search i can live without as rarely use it
    outlook search is something needing to be improved i feel – anyone know a good one?

  3. ULBoom said on November 14, 2018 at 8:29 pm
    Reply

    The idea of web searches through FILE Explorer is crazy. I want FILE Explorer to find stuff in my computer. I want a browser to find stuff outside of my computer. Difficult to understand? No. Letting Explorer escape into the wild does give MS the opportunity to annoy you with Bing (which everyone I know closes instantly) and meld your files with collection of your online session data.

    I’d think a common reaction to File Explorer going online would be something like “WTF! How did that happen? I want those vacation pics I saved locally, not a bunch of silly beach and mountain pics someone else took!”

    1. Anonymous said on November 15, 2018 at 2:24 am
      Reply

      This is Microsoft’s way of driving traffic to Bing Bong.

  4. John Fenderson said on November 14, 2018 at 6:13 pm
    Reply

    I use a (couple of) third party search programs. Windows search remains absolutely worthless to me. It is never able to find what I’m searching for, so I don’t use it.

    Seriously, Windows 7 search was pretty poor, but it was absolutely wonderful compared to what came after.

  5. John S said on November 14, 2018 at 5:40 pm
    Reply

    Would be nice if Microsoft just got basic search right with local searches. I could care less about Cortana because for the web I use other search tools. Should have options to just remove Cortana completely and revert to a basic local search. It really should have always been that way for every Windows 10 version.

  6. 420 said on November 14, 2018 at 5:32 pm
    Reply

    I cant even burn 1809 because microsoft is so stupid they made the iso slightly bigger than a dvd and I dont have any dual layers and I aint going to go buy some, they are the zenith of inept.

    1. Hugh Ferguson said on November 15, 2018 at 6:18 am
      Reply

      “they are the zenith of inept” +1

    2. VioletMoon said on November 15, 2018 at 1:48 am
      Reply

      A DVD? Seriously?

      1. Paul said on December 9, 2019 at 3:37 pm
        Reply

        Military installations and many other secure business do not allow USB’s or other recordable devices.

    3. manouche said on November 14, 2018 at 11:43 pm
      Reply

      Use Rufus instead to create bootable USB drives. No installation required.
      Download from the official website:

      https://rufus.ie/en_IE.html

      For more info and help, visit the github project

      https://github.com/pbatard/rufus

      Sidenote:

      To avoid any stubborn and fruitless discussions, like the ones just happened few days ago about enigmatic “Home Phones” (see Daram Renamer), I strongly recommend, first read the following section in the FAQ:

      ☞ Rufus connects to the internet, but I never allowed it to – why? ☜

      https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/wiki/FAQ

    4. bwat47 said on November 14, 2018 at 7:17 pm
      Reply

      Who uses DVD’s anymore? Use a USB drive

    5. Rato said on November 14, 2018 at 7:05 pm
      Reply

      DVD’s in 2018, lmao.

  7. Anonymous said on November 14, 2018 at 5:24 pm
    Reply

    Two questions:

    1. Did Microsoft fix the bug that prevented Web search from being disabled in 1803?

    https://www.ghacks.net/2018/04/07/microsoft-breaks-disable-web-search-in-windows-10-version-1803/

    2. Do programs like WizFile and Everything also search the control panel and the settings app?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on November 14, 2018 at 7:04 pm
      Reply

      I have to test 1), can’t say as I don’t use web search. The search tools find files only.

      1. Anonymous said on November 15, 2018 at 3:23 pm
        Reply

        That’s too bad. I don’t want Web search integrated with local search. If there were a program that searched the settings app and the control panel, then I could replace Windows search entirely, and not have to worry about Microsoft breaking their own settings and having to resort to registry hacks to disable Web search.

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