One of the new features of Search Highlights in the Windows 10 and Windows 11 search box is a mini graphic to remind you of various seasonal moments throughout the year. A bit like the Google Doodle, from time to time, on the right of the main search box in Windows 10, or the top right of the expanded search box in Windows 11, you’ll see a “cute” icon. Most recently it was of horses to remind you of the Kentucky Derby. Yet, as cool as some think this is, turns out that not everyone is a fan of this OS behavior, and per a Reddit thread, a lot of people hate it.
Currently with 337 upvotes at the time of writing, that Search Highlights feature seems to have hit the nerves of some people. The original poster proclaimed it as “this stupid thing,” questioning what it is, unaware of the true purpose. In the replies, another user called it “depressing,” and one more person questioned why Microsoft thinks it is appropriate. In another moment, a Redditor also proclaimed that “this is not a search engine webpage, but an OS used by professionals for serious work.”
Simply put, the general consensus is that people don’t like this behavior of the search box, so much so that one person thought it was a virus. It’s not the first time that this has happened either, as similar “cute” icons for the NFL draft appeared in the past back in April. This was of a football and a microphone icon.
Fortunately, for those who weren’t aware of why there are horses in their Windows search box, the admins of r/Windows10 pinned a comment with a link that explains it just like we did. That thread mentions how you can turn off Search Highlights on Windows 11, through the settings app in Privacy & Security > Search Permissions > More Settings. In Windows 10, meanwhile, all you need to do is right-click on your search bar, and uncheck Show Search Highlights.
Do you think that these seasonal “cute” icons in the search box are too distracting? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
