University of Kwazulu-Natal

Stop Using Windows Search These Apps Are Way Smarter

Bonisiwe Shabane
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stop using windows search these apps are way smarter

The search feature on Windows 11 has been improved; however, it can still be slow, not find what you are looking for, or not work correctly. Luckily, there is a free third-party utility you can use instead that does a much better job. As its name implies, Everything (by Voidtools) finds everything on your PC. Everything is a third-party tool designed to make searching on Windows more efficient. It indexes file and folder names and constantly tracks modifications and re-indexes them. It’s extremely light on system resources with an intuitive user interface.

It also has a portable version you can carry with you when troubleshooting or managing files and folders on other PCs. There are some good reasons to ditch Windows search and use Everything instead, so let’s examine them. Speed up your Windows search with the Everything app. Learn how to install, configure, and use this powerful tool for instant, precise file searches. Everything is a small installation file and uses minimal system resources like CPU and RAM. On the other hand, Windows search is more resource-intensive and bogs down your system, especially when indexing and querying large drives containing a lot of data.

It is also a better solution to Windows search on old and low-end systems (like old Windows 10 PCs) since the standard search can bog down your Windows experience while trying to find specific... Revive your old laptop with 10 lightweight tools for browsing, editing, security, and more Here's the list of features you should disable on every installation of Windows 11. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Windows 11 comes with a plethora of features and functionalities, catering to a wide range of users.

However, not all of these features are universally essential or desirable. For example, while notifications can be helpful, they can also break the workflow with the sounds and banners, making you less productive. The Taskbar comes with various features, such as Search and Weather, but you can always search from the Start menu and the weather through the Widgets dashboard, so you can safely remove these icons. You can also remove and disable Copilot if you're not interested in using AI. If you don't find the web highlights on the home page from Search, that's something you can turn off. You can also remove the date and time from the Taskbar, turn off the Start menu recommendations (sort of), disable Memory Integrity if it causes issues, start apps to boost performance, and many more.

Stop Windows from showing you web results when you just want files and apps. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. One of the most annoying things about Windows 11 (and 10) is how it shows web results when you're just looking for local data. You might click on the Windows search box just because you want to find the shortcut to your favorite app or that Word doc you've been working on. But instead of getting a list of results from your computer, you're shown search results in Bing.

And these search results slow you down by pinging the Internet. Even when you first click on the search box, you have to wait a few seconds while Windows pulls down a list of featured MSN.com news stories and search results. That's extra time you're wasting while waiting for the UI, just so Microsoft can promote its web content and service. Fortunately, it's easy enough to turn off Windows web search with a few quick registry tweaks. These steps will work in both Windows 11 and Windows 10. Guide to Clearing Top Apps from Windows 11 Search

Windows 11 has transformed the user experience, introducing a cleaner interface and more streamlined access to applications and features. However, with these changes come new challenges, especially when it comes to managing what appears in your search results. Among these issues, many users want to know how to remove "Top Apps" from the Windows 11 search results. This comprehensive guide will help you navigate your way through the user interface, settings, and Registry Editor to customize your search experience effectively. When you use the search function in Windows 11, it includes results from various categories, such as documents, emails, settings, and apps. The "Top Apps" section is designed to highlight popular or recently used applications based on your usage patterns, but this feature may not always align with your preferences.

The capability of customizing search results can enhance productivity and make using your Windows machine more enjoyable. By understanding how to manipulate the search function effectively, you can declutter your experience and focus only on the applications that really matter to you. Before diving into the step-by-step instructions on removing Top Apps, let’s look at a few reasons you might want to do this: Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer from Ahmedabad, India. As a long-time Windows and Android user, he has extensive knowledge of both operating systems and specializes in creating how-tos and troubleshooting guides. Pankil has been writing about Windows, Android, and iOS since 2021.

He has written over 1200 articles across reputable publications like MakeUseOf, GuidingTech, and TechWiser. Outside of his writing endeavors, Pankil is an avid football fan and loves to plan his international travels with his wife in his free time. Even though I’m a Windows fan, there are certain annoyances I can’t ignore. As good as Windows 11 has gotten, it still feels a bit limited in some areas. The Start menu can be sluggish, the taskbar offers frustratingly few customization options, and default apps like File Explorer, Task Manager, and Phone Link often feel restrictive. Over time, these small annoyances really add up.

The good news is that almost all of these frustrations can be solved with the right apps. From replacing the Start menu with a faster, smarter alternative to making file sharing and device integration effortless, these tools can turn Windows from a frustrating experience into a smooth, enjoyable one. Every installation of Windows 11 includes a very long list of preinstalled apps. Some are there because they're necessary for the operating system to do what it does. Others are there to help Microsoft make more money, because every Windows PC is valuable for its ability to bundle and promote Microsoft's collection of paid services, including Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Xbox, and Copilot. Also: How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 in 2025

Want to see the entire collection? On a brand new PC, go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and scroll through the list. If you've already installed a bunch of third-party apps, type Microsoft in the search box at the top of the page to filter the list. When I tried that on a brand new installation of Windows 11 version 24H2 just now, that list included 37 apps, some essential and others completely unnecessary. Thanks to a 2023 decision by European regulators, you can now uninstall most of those apps. But should you?

These built-in apps take up very little disk space and use no CPU or graphics power unless you choose to run them. The real issue is simple: If you don't want an app on your PC, you have the right to remove it. Also: 6 things I always do after setting up Windows 11

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It also has a portable version you can carry with you when troubleshooting or managing files and folders on other PCs. There are some good reasons to ditch Windows search and use Everything instead, so let’s examine them. Speed up your Windows search with the Everything app. Learn how to install, configure, and use this powerful tool for instant, precise file searches. Everything is a small instal...

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Stop Windows From Showing You Web Results When You Just

Stop Windows from showing you web results when you just want files and apps. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. One of the most annoying things about Windows 11 (and 10) is how it shows web results when you're just looking for local data. You might click on the Windows search box just because you want to find the shortcut to your ...