Microsoft experiments with new search buttons on the Taskbar in latest Windows 11 Dev Channel build

Search icon, or search bar. Or longer search bar?

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

What you need to know

It’s time foranother Windows 11 preview buildto grace Microsoft’s Insider Dev Channel. Today’s build is 25158, and features a handful of notable changes and experiments that Microsoft rolling out to some Insiders. The first notable change is with the Widgets panel, which will now present notification badges on the Taskbar when breaking news alerts go live.

The other notable change in this build is a new experimental UI for how the search button presents itself on the Taskbar. Microsoft is testing three new designs, the first being a traditional search icon, the second being a short search bar, and the third being a slightly longer search bar.

Microsoft says these are only experiments, and if they go down poorly with testers Microsoft will revert them back to the current design. Lastly, Microsoft is removing the search bar widget from the desktop, as it says it has concluded that experiment. It doesn’t say whether said feature will return in the future.

Build 25158 changelog:

Get the Windows Central Newsletter

All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.

Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch onTwitterandThreads