Microsoft has significantly changed the interface of the Windows 11 operating system, including the taskbar, which has lost some features. Now the company is testing the return of the familiar search bar from Windows 10 along with notification badges for the widgets section in Windows 11.

Windows 11 is currently delivered with a search button on the taskbar that only shows a search icon. Microsoft is testing three different visual changes to taskbar search. One of them is a regular search icon, while the other two contain a small or large search bar on a taskbar.

Microsoft is waiting for feedback on the changes before they are rolled out more widely, and the tests are part of Windows 11’s new experimental features, which means they may not make it to release.

After recently returning the weather widget to the taskbar in Windows 11, Microsoft is now testing adding notification badges to it. The latter are for content such as breaking news and look similar to the icons found in the Action Center on the right side of the taskbar.

“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,” explains Windows Insider head Amanda Langowski.

In addition to user interface tests, Windows Insiders in the Developer Channel will also be able to start testing the new Camera app for Windows 11. The app has been redesigned to match Windows 11 and now includes support for QR and barcode scanning.

The new media player update is also available for testing with the ability to rip CDs to AAC, WMA, FLAC, and ALAC files.