Windows 11 Search Can Now Call Your Phone and Change Settings
Windows 11 search is getting its biggest upgrade in years. In Experimental build 26340.9843, released to Windows Insiders on October 30, 2026, Microsoft lets the search box adjust volume and brightness, call or text from a connected Android phone, and filter results by type. The same build adds full Quick Settings to Xbox mode, so gamers can change Wi-Fi or Bluetooth without leaving the full-screen interface.
The changes are listed in the official release notes for build 26340.9843. They are rolling out gradually through Controlled Feature Rollout, so not every Insider will see them right away, and Microsoft warns that Experimental features may change or never ship.
What’s New in Windows 11 Search?
The redesigned search experience, which started rolling out earlier in October, now works more like a small command center than a file finder. The main additions are:
- Inline actions: sliders for volume, screen brightness and cursor size appear directly in the results.
- Phone actions: with a phone connected through Phone Link, you can place a call, send a text or turn on Do Not Disturb. Android support is live now, and iPhone support is planned for early 2027.
- Richer results: file previews with last modified date, location and author, plus web answers for weather, stocks and facts, and app suggestions from the Microsoft Store.
- Result filters: narrow results to Files and Folders, Settings, Actions and more.
- Feedback controls: right-click any result to give it a thumbs up or down, or remove items from the initial view.
Store app results can be switched off under Settings, Privacy and security, Search, the same place where web results are controlled.
Quick Settings Arrive in Xbox Mode
Xbox mode turns a Windows PC or handheld into a console-style, full-screen interface. Until now, changing a basic setting often meant dropping back to the desktop. The new build places the complete Quick Settings panel from the taskbar into the Gaming Task View navigation bar, covering Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, power and other toggles. This matters most on handheld gaming PCs, where switching to the desktop with a controller is awkward. It follows other recent gaming-focused moves from Microsoft, such as hourly pricing for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Beta Channel Gets Per-App Privacy Controls
Microsoft shipped Beta build 26220.9836 the same day, as announced on the Windows Insider Blog. Its headline change is per-app camera, microphone and location permissions for traditional desktop apps, which previously shared a single device-wide switch. Existing choices are kept.
When Will Everyone Get It?
Microsoft has not given a date. Beta channel features usually reach regular Windows 11 PCs within a few months, while Experimental channel features can take longer or be dropped.
For now, the latest changes for everyone are smaller ones, like the customizable right-click menu in KB5127936.
Microsoft has also been working on better Windows 11 performance on PCs with 8 GB of RAM.
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