Description: The Search UI has recently changed in Workfront removing both the ability to simply close window when finished searching to return to the page you were on and the ability to have your search filters per object type persist.
This change impacts our user base negatively enough that we assumed it was a bug and I put in a support ticket. I've received the following response:
What Changed in the Workfront Search UI?
Full-Screen Search: The Advanced Search is now a full-screen experience. When you open the search, it overlays the entire page.
No Close Button: The new design does not include a close (X) button to exit search and return to your previous page. Instead, you must use the browser’s back button.
Navigation Impact: If you perform multiple searches or add filters, each action adds to your browser history. Returning to your starting page (e.g., a project) requires multiple clicks on the back button, which can be cumbersome.
Consistency: This behavior is the same across Chrome and Firefox, on both Windows and Mac. Why Was This Changed? According to Adobe Workfront’s official documentation: The Advanced Search is now full screen. You must navigate away from the page rather than closing the dialog.
This update is part of a broader interface modernization effort to make Workfront more consistent with other Adobe applications. However, it has unintentionally reduced usability in this area.
Known Limitations and User Impact
There is no way to simply “close” the search and return to your previous context. The filter is not prepopulated and does not persist after a refresh. The only way to return to your previous page is to use the browser’s back button, which can be tedious after multiple searches or filter changes. This affects all users and is not browser- or OS-specific.
Workarounds & Recommendations
Use the Back Button: For now, using the browser’s back button is the only way to return to your previous context. Open Search in a New Tab: As a workaround, right-click the search menu and choose “Open link in new tab” (if available), so your original page remains open.
Why is this feature important to you:
Being able to simply close the search window when done searching is the simplest most efficient user journey especially if you are trying to eliminate user clicks as much as possible. Right now, with the update in place, if you perform a search and then add multiple filters in order to narrow down your search you will have to have either remembered to open a new window/tab for searching alone or will be forced to click the back button in your browser multiple times to return to your original page.
Filters you set no longer persist to the next search which necessitates this multiple iterations in the search window every time you use it unless you want to use a simple, very generic search and not drill down past the first page of results
If this is aligned to how search works in other adobe products, search should be updated across their whole product offering because this experience is terrible.
How would you like the feature to work:
1) Primary concern: Bring back the close button so you can simply close the search window at any time to return to the page from which the search window was opened
2) Secondary concern: Allow filters to persist in the search window
