Search bar all options underlined

Question

I am seeking clarification on a specific UI element I’m seeing in the Start Menu Search on my laptop that does not appear on my other Windows 11 devices.

In the Search interface (featuring the detached "pill" search bar and integrated Microsoft Rewards counter), all category filter buttons—All, Apps, Documents, Web, and Media—are permanently underlined.

Steps taken to troubleshoot:

1. Accessibility Settings: Verified that "Underline access keys when available" is toggled OFF in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
2. System Refresh: Restarted Windows Explorer via Task Manager and performed multiple full system restarts.
3. Clean Installation: This behavior persisted even after a fresh reinstallation of Windows via Windows Update.

Do I need to factory reset my device, is this a minor glitch or not even a concern? Could it be a test Microsoft is doing? Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your detailed explanation and for clearly outlining the steps you’ve already tried, that helps a lot.

At this time, Windows does not provide documented controls to customize the visual styling of Search category filters. If you’d like Microsoft to consider adjusting or clarifying this UI behavior, submit feedback via Feedback Hub

• Press Windows key + F
• Open “Feedback Hub”
• Category: Desktop Environment > Start Menu / Search
• Include your screenshot and mention the persistent underline state

Official guidance on submitting UI feedback: Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

Hello.

I would assume it is an theme setting. My colors is set to purple and my theme is set to dark. It is just an UI element that is not even a concern. I posted a photos of what that looks like on my computer.