With each new iteration, Microsoft tries to make the operating system more and more streamlined. The Search feature in particular has received particular attention, with it becoming more and more powerful with each new update.
Recently, some users have reported that they see an error where they see Windows 10 or 11 Search not working on their computer. Here, I shall discuss how you can solve this error completely on your computer easily.
How To Fix Windows 10 Search Not Working?
With Windows 10 Search, you can now locate files and folders within subfolders as well, as the feature is becoming more and more powerful with each new Windows update. It is an integral part of the operating system now since its separation from the Cortana button, and many people use it extensively in their day to day usage.
When the search feature breaks, it can cause major problems in how the operating system is used on a day to day basis. Here are some simple solutions that you can try in order to solve if you see Windows Search not working on your computer.
Solution 1: Restart SearchUI
one of the first things you can try is to restart the Windows 10 process that controls search and Cortana. you will need to perform this action from the task manager, and here are the steps you need to follow:
- On your keyboard, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to directly open the Windows 10 task manager.
- Here switch to the Details tab.
- Next, locate the following process:
SearchUI.exe - Right-click on this process and select End task from the context menu.
- as soon as you end this process, windows will automatically restart it immediately. However, if it doesn’t, simply restart your computer.
Your error should now be fixed.
Solution 2: Run The Troubleshooter
Microsoft acknowledges the buggy nature of Windows 10 and thus has included a bunch of troubleshooters to help the users when they encounter some error. if you are not comfortable applying some advanced steps, the troubleshooter is a good place to begin as it will automatically search the problem and attempt to fix it.
To run the indexing troubleshooter, follow these steps:
- Press Win + I on your keyboard to directly open the Windows Settings app.
- Click to go to Update & Security.
- From the left pane menu, select Troubleshoot.
- In the right column, locate Search And Indexing under ‘Find and fix other problems’.
- Click on Run the troubleshooter button to launch the built-in troubleshooter.
Now simply follow the onscreen instructions, to find what is causing this error on your computer. for most basic errors, you should be able to solve it using the built-in Microsoft troubleshooters. cheque if there are persists.
Solution 3: Use Command Prompt To Repair Search
if the troubleshooter was unable to locate the cause of this error, you can use the command-line interpreter in Windows 10 to repair the search feature. this is a fairly easy process, and here are the steps that you need to follow for the same:
- Press Win + R keys to launch a Run dialog.
- Here, type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter do lunch a command prompt window with administrative privileges.
- Type the following command to directly launch the diagnostic tool:
msdt -ep WindowsHelp id SearchDiagnostic - After you click on the Advanced button, make sure that the box next to the following option is checked:
Apply repairs automatically - Click on the Next button and follow the onscreen instructions to repair the Search feature on your computer.
Solution 4: Restart Windows Search Service
The Windows 10 search feature is maintained by the Windows Search service. If you see Windows 10 Search not working, there is a possibility that Windows Search service is frozen or maybe malfunctioning on your computer. Restarting the service should help you solve this error.
Follow these steps for the same:
- Open a Run dialog, and type services.msc in the box.
- Press Enter to launch the Services console.
- Here, locate the Windows Search service.
- Right-click on the service and select Restart from the context menu.
- Next, double click on the service to launch the Properties window for the service.
- Change the Startup type to Automatic from the drop-down menu.
Now, check if the error persists. You should not see the error on your computer anymore.
Solution 5: Remove Bing From Windows 10 Search
If you recently saw type here to Search not working, it may be due to a registry entry that Microsoft introduced In the latest update. you can attempt to fix this issue by disabling the Bing integration from the Windows search bar. This solution involves modifying a registry key, so make sure that you back up the important files and your registry in case something goes wrong.
After taking the backups, follow these steps have to remove The Bing integration from Windows 10 search bar. note that you will not see the web results in the search bar once you apply this solution.
- Open Run dialogue by pressing Win + R.
- Type regedit and press enter to launch the registry editor on your computer. Click on the Yes button in the User Account Control prompt.
- Navigate put the following location by pasting the path in the address bar of the registry editor:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search - In the right pane, right-click and hover on New> from the context menu.
- Select DWORD (32-bit) from the additional menu.
- Name the entry as follows:
BingSearchEnabled - Make sure that the value data is set to 0.
- Next, locate the CortanaConsent key.
- Change the value data to 0 for this key as well.
- Click on OK and then restart your PC.
Following this, you should be able to use Windows 10 Search for the local results. Next, wait for the official Windows update that fixes this issue. If you do not like this, you can change the value data for the keys that you created.
Solution 6: Run SFC And DISM Scans
If none of the solutions above helped you, there may be some broken system files that are interfering with the normal functioning of the operating system. Sometimes, corrupt or missing system files can lead to many operating system errors.
Luckily, there are two command-line utilities that can be used to troubleshoot this error. We have already covered how to repair broken system files, make sure to check that and run the scans.
Solution 7: Reset Your PC
If none of the solutions above failed to help you, you will need to reset your computer. Follow these steps for the same:
- Backup your files.
- Open the Settings application.
- Click on Update & Security.
- From the left pane, select Recovery.
- From the right pane, click on the Get started button under Reset this PC.
- This will restart your device into Advanced Boot Options.
- Select Remove everything from the choose an options section.
- Click on Next and follow the onscreen instructions to reset your Windows.
Wrapping Up
So, there you have it. Now you know how to troubleshoot if you see Windows 10 and 11 Search not working. Comment below if you found this useful, and to discuss further the same.