Highlights:

  • Microsoft is currently exploring the addition of notification badges after recently restoring the Weather widget to the taskbar in Windows 11.
  • The tech giant is experimenting with bringing back Windows 10’s well-known search bar and adding notification badges to the Widgets section of Windows 11.

Microsoft announced that it is experimenting with new UI adjustments for the taskbar in Windows 11. The tech giant is experimenting with bringing back Windows 10’s well-known search bar and is adding notification badges to the Widgets section of Windows 11.

Currently, Windows 11 comes with a search button on the taskbar that can be turned off and merely displays the search logo. Microsoft is currently evaluating three alternative cosmetic modifications to the search taskbar.

Two of the experiments use a small or large search bar in the taskbar, while the first one uses the standard search icon. The experiments are a part of Microsoft’s new experimental Windows 11 features, which does imply they might not ship.

Microsoft is seeking input on the modifications before they are implemented more widely.

The tech giant is also currently exploring the addition of notification badges after recently restoring the Weather widget to the taskbar in Windows 11. The alerts resemble the badges in the Action Center on the right side of the taskbar and are intended for material like breaking news.

Director of Windows Insider Amanda Langowski explained, “When you open the Widgets board, a banner will appear at the top of the board providing more information on what triggered the notification badge.”

Although it’s not said specifically, it can be assumed that it’s possible to disable these notifications in addition to the standard option to remove the Widgets taskbar button.

Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel will be able to begin testing a new Camera app for Windows 11 in addition to the UI tests. The design has been changed to work with Windows 11 and now supports scanning QR codes and barcodes. Additionally, a brand-new Media Player upgrade that can rip CDs into AAC, WMA, FLAC, and ALAC files is accessible for testing.