Why Is My Windows 11 Search So Painfully Slow and How Can I Fix It Fast?

What Amazing New Features Does Windows 11 KB5060826 Bring to Frustrated Users?

Windows 11 just got a major fix that I think you'll love. The KB5060826 update finally tackles that annoying slow search problem that's been driving users crazy for months.

I remember how frustrating it was when the Start menu search would take forever to respond. You'd click on it and wait... and wait... sometimes up to 10 seconds just to start typing. That delay made simple tasks feel like a chore. But now Microsoft has patched this issue, bringing back the quick search experience we all expect.

What Makes This Update Special

This isn't your typical forced security update. KB5060826 is optional, which means Windows won't automatically install it on your computer. You need to actively check for it in Settings > Windows Update and look for optional updates. If that doesn't work, you can grab the offline installer directly from Microsoft's Update Catalog.

The update brings your system to build 22631.5549 for Windows 11 23H2 users and 22621.5549 for 22H2 users. What I find impressive is that this update stays under 1GB, unlike some previous updates that ballooned to 3GB.

New Features That Actually Matter

PC-to-PC File Transfer

Microsoft added something I've been waiting for - direct PC migration through Windows Backup. Before this, you had to upload everything to the cloud first, then restore it on your new computer. Now you can transfer files and settings directly from your old PC to a new one using a wireless connection. It works similar to the old Windows 7 Easy Transfer tool that many of us remember.

Link Preview in Windows Share

When you share links through Windows, you'll now see a preview of what you're sending. This works just like WhatsApp or other messaging apps where you can see a snippet of the webpage before sharing it.

Browser Settings for European Users

If you're in the European Economic Area, you get some new browser default options. The system will automatically set more file types to your chosen default browser and pin it to your taskbar and Start menu (unless you opt out). There's also a dedicated button for changing PDF defaults.

Critical Fixes You Need to Know About

This update solves several serious problems:

• Audit Log Overflow: A bug was creating too many security event logs, filling up your system drive and preventing sign-ins
• Remote Desktop Issues: RDP connections were failing due to display kernel errors
• Network Share Problems: Workstations and servers would freeze when connecting to SMB shares
• Windows Hello Certificate Renewal: The system wasn't automatically renewing expired certificates for Windows Hello for Business
• Kiosk Device Crashes: Administrator accounts couldn't properly lock and unlock kiosk devices without causing system freezes

One Issue Still Needs Attention

There's still a problem with Noto fonts that Microsoft introduced in March. These fonts now appear blurry and have alignment issues in web browsers. The temporary fix is to increase your display scaling to 125% until Microsoft releases a proper patch.

How to Get This Update

Getting KB5060826 is straightforward:

1. Open Settings on your Windows 11 PC
2. Go to Windows Update
3. Click "Check for updates"
4. Look for optional updates
5. Download and install KB5060826

If Windows Update gives you trouble, download the standalone installer from Microsoft Update Catalog. You'll find both 64-bit and ARM64 versions available.

Should You Install It Now?

I recommend installing this update if you've been dealing with slow search or any of the networking issues mentioned above. The search fix alone makes it worthwhile for most users. Since it's optional, you can wait and see how other users experience it, but the fixes address real problems that affect daily computer use.

The update also includes improvements for system administrators who want more control over how updates install during the initial Windows setup process. This gives IT departments better flexibility when deploying Windows 11 across organizations.

Microsoft released this update on June 26, 2025, and it's rolling out gradually to all eligible Windows 11 systems. The gradual rollout means some features might not appear immediately for all users, but the core fixes should be available right away.