Search bar glass icon replaced with large text button [KB5019980]

Those who are running Windows 11 may have noticed a few changes from the Patch Tuesday update KB5019980. 

Since its release, Microsoft has been making small but evident changes to Windows 11. You can check out an updated review of the OS to find out what you have been missing if you are still not on the Windows 11 train.

A new way to search

In a new KB5019980 update, Microsoft has made some noticeable changes. The most obvious change is visible in the Taskbar and Start menu. One of the features included in this new update is a rework of the search interface. 

The new search bar is still very similar to the previous one. However, instead of displaying an icon that looks like a magnifying glass, it now displays a large text button that reads Search.

Mandatory update

Unfortunately, if you don’t like the new search change, it is a mandatory update that will be installed automatically as soon as it is available. The only workaround is to block the updates but that can only last you so long.

While some people will argue that this isn’t an eye-catching change, others will say it’s annoying because it takes up more space on their screen than before and makes it harder for them to type into the address bar.

A Twitter user responded to the changes: I wish we had the option to toggle between the icon and the search bar. The new design looks nice but I prefer more space on my taskbar.

It appears that Microsoft is still in the testing stages as they try out different variations of the Search icon so user feedback will be an important ingredient for the final change.

While it’s certainly an interesting change, it’s unclear how useful the new button will be in practice. Do you think this update is an improvement? Are there other changes that need to be made to Windows 11? Share your thoughts in the comments below.