Windows 10 Search Not Working? How to Fix!

Apr. 20, 2021

One of the most important features ofWindows 10is its search functionality. It enables you to search not only local files and folders on the computer but also Bing, OneDrive, and more. It is a core component of Microsoft’s desktop operating system, but it has a bad habit of acting up now and then. So if you are facing problems with Windows 10 search (not working, errant results, indexing issues, etc.) and looking for ways to fix them, you’ve come to the right place.

Fix Search Problems in Your Windows 10 Computer

Windows Search is an essential tool that most of us use multiple times each day. So naturally, a dysfunctional search feature can greatly hinder productivity. The good news is, there are several ways to fix the search feature if it’s not working on your Windows 10 computer. In this article, we detail these methods to help you solve any problems with Windows 10 search.

Windows 10 comes with a new built-in troubleshooting tool that can help you address issues with Windows Search. It is the first thing you should do if the search function on your Windows 10 PC stops working. To use the feature, follow these steps:

Note:You can also open the search troubleshooter from Command Prompt using the following command:msdt -ep WindowsHelp id SearchDiagnostic

The method described above is the best and most effective way to fix search problems in Windows 10. However, if this doesn’t solve your issue, you can try a host of other methods to see what works in your case.

The built-in troubleshooter can take care of most issues affecting Search on Windows 10. However, if it doesn’t solve your problem, you can try rebuilding the index database to fix search problems in Windows 10. For that, try the following steps:

The above method will clear and rebuild the index database. It will take a long time, but once complete, the search function on Windows 10 should start working as usual.

Microsoft also offers a diagnostics tool called ‘Indexer Diagnostics’. It enables users to do additional troubleshooting to detect potential issues affecting the Search Indexer service.“Indexing is the process of looking at files, email messages, and other content on your PC and cataloging their information, such as the words and metadata in them. When you search your PC after indexing, it looks at an index of terms to find results faster”, Microsoftsays in its official documenton Search Indexing in Windows 10.

Do note that this is a time-consuming process and can take up to two hours to complete the first time you run the utility. After that, it will be relatively faster, given that indexing will run in the background when you use it, only re-indexing updated data. You can download Indexer Diagnostics (Free) from the Microsoft Store to get started. Once you run the app, it will present you with a list of potential issues. Hit the ‘Restart’ button next to the problem that best describes your situation.

If none of the steps above help fix your problem, try restarting the Windows search service. Here’s how you do it:

Note:These are the default options for Windows Search. If the service is working normally, these options will all be automatically enabled.

The SearchUI process will restart automatically within seconds. If it doesn’t, restart your computer. If the search functionality is not working on your Windows 10 PC, that should fix the problem right away.

Note:The default execution policy in Windows is ‘Restricted’. However, you can check the current setting using the following commandGet-ExecutionPolicy. If it says ‘Unrestricted’ instead of ‘Restricted’, skip the above step and go straight to the step below.

This should fix any issues with search on your Windows 10 computer, and you should be able to search for files and apps again.

Now that you know how to fix the Search function on your Windows 10 PC, check out some of our other troubleshooting guides as well. You can learn how tofix network connectivity issues in Windows 10,how to fix slow File Explorer searchin Windows 10, and more. Also, if you are facing any battery or performance issues, here are15 tips to improve the battery lifeand tips onhow you can speed up Windows 10in a few easy steps. We hope our guide helps you fix the search functionality on your Windows 10 computer. If you run into any issues or have doubts, comment them down below, and we will help you out.

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