Those who have installed Windows 10 will have noticed that on the taskbar, next to the Start button, there is a very convenient search bar, which will also function as a launch point for Cortana, the Microsoft voice assistant. The search box allows you to quickly search for installed programs, applications, settings, files and documents and also works to search the internet .
If you like the idea, you can add a similar search bar in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 without installing additional programs.
The search bar in Windows 7 and 8 obviously does not have all the functions that will be integrated into Windows 10, but allows you to quickly open an internet search, launch programs and access system tools.
The only limitation, a bit strange, perhaps a bug, is that you cannot search for a single word.
For example, looking for " Windows " the browser tries to open the // windows site which, of course, does not exist.
To search the internet, you must therefore write at least two words detached from a space, such as " Windows 10 ".
In addition, searches are based on the default search engine in Internet Explorer so, to use Google, you must add it and make it default in Internet Explorer, by clicking on the gear button at the top right, in the add-ons management.
To start a program from the search bar, you must instead write the name of the executable file, for example, notepad.exe or chrome.exe.
All the commands that you would write from the " Run " box and those to access Windows settings, such as msconfig, regedit or cmd, work well .
To add a search box to the Windows 8 or Windows 7 taskbar, proceed as follows:
First, right click on the taskbar, go with the mouse on Toolbars and click on " Addresses ".
The search box will now appear on the right, next to the notification area and the clock.
To move the search box to the left you need to right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and remove the check mark on " Lock bar ".
Now, take the search bar from its left edge with the mouse and move it, keeping the key pressed, stretching it all the way to the left until it moves, then narrowing it from the right edge.
Finally, click with the right mouse button where " address " is written and uncheck the " Show title ".
Narrow the search bar again from the right edge and lock the taskbar.
READ ALSO: All the ways to customize the Windows taskbar
