Taskbar search is now being replaced by "Ask Copilot" which opens a floating popup that you can use to interact with Copilot, search for files, open apps, etc. It targets enterprise customers who use the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

In tests, "Ask Copilot" is more accurate at finding local files and apps compared to the current Windows Search. However, Microsoft is working on improving the normal Search as well.

Ask Copilot is entirely optional, and won't be enabled by default. It is expected to release mid-2026, but it might change.

Source: Microsoft's Published Document

Taskbar search is one of the first buttons to go on any work computer I've ever used. Not that I don't use search sometimes, but because it's redundant. It's already baked into the start menu, why have a separate button for it?

Because our devices are locked down, I once had to get on the phone with a tech to install a piece of software I needed that I was prevented from installing myself. I watched him puzzle around for a few minutes before I asked if something was wrong. The kid had no idea how to open Control Panel without using the search button.

Long story short, I reckon I'd use this ridiculous implementation of the search button even less than the previous one.