How to fix Windows search not working on Windows? (2023)

If Windows search is not working, the main reasons are a recently downloaded Windows update, interference with the Bing search utility, a stopped Windows search service, and corrupted system files. These are the most common causes that can trigger this problem.

Usually, after installing a faulty Windows update, Windows search stops returning search results, preventing you from using the Windows search utility. However, it can be easily fixed by clicking on the blank space in Windows search, but it is not a permanent solution. You need to follow the below methods to fix this issue permanently. If any of the solutions don't work for you then try other solutions as they all worked for affected users in different scenarios.

1. Restart File Explorer

As a first fix, we recommend restarting Windows Explorer before going through the other fixes. Windows Explorer manages the taskbar, start menu and more. So if a transient error is causing this issue, restarting Windows Explorer will help. Here are the steps:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and clickTask Manager
2. When Task Manager is open, selectwindows explorerand then clickStarting over
   

   

3. Then check if the issue is resolved.

2. Disable Bing Search in Registry

Bing search has been found to be preventing the Windows search utility from returning results. There is a high possibility that Windows search is not responding due to Bing search interference. So, try disabling Bing search in Registry Editor to fix this issue.

1. tightenTo win+ROpento runwindow
2. Typeregeditand clickOK
   

   

3. Change to the following directory and right click on the empty space in the right pane

   Computador\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search

4. To floatNeuand clickValor DWORD (32 bits).
   

   

5. sayBingSearchEnabled
   
6. Then double-click the entry to ensure its value data is 0. If it is not 0, change it to0

   

7. When finished, clickOK,Close Registry Editor and restart your computer for the change to take effect.

3. Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter

Another good solution to this problem is to run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter, which usually fixes Windows Search by restarting the Windows Search component and fixes problems related to Search Indexing.

If you're not familiar with the Index, it's a feature that lets you find text in a file or a specific file or folder in less than a second. While it makes the Windows search function fast and responsive, it can also lead to this issue when Windows fails to index properly. So, try running the search and indexing troubleshooter by following these steps:

1. Open settings by pressingTo win+EUno keyboard
2. Then navigate toUpdate & Safety
   

   

3. ChooseProblems solutionfrom the left sidebar
4. cliqueAdditional bug fixes

   

5. Then select theSearch and indexingProblems solution
6. cliqueRun the troubleshooter
   

   

7. A window will appear and you will need to select the issue you are experiencing. If you are unable to see the search results, check the first option, vizUnable to search or see results
   

   

8. then clickNext
9. If the troubleshooter detects the issues, it will show you an optionTry these fixes as an administrator. Click on it to fix the problem
   

   

10. When finished, now check if the Windows search issue not showing search results is fixed.

4. Uninstall the latest Windows updates

Windows search not working issue also occurs if you have installed Windows updates recently. Windows automatically downloads or installs updates in the background when they are available, which sometimes leads to this issue. The simple solution to this issue is to uninstall Windows updates and if the issue is resolved thenDisable automatic Windows updatesto permanently eliminate this problem. Below are the steps to uninstall a recent Windows update:

1. tightenTo win+Rkeys and typeSwitchboardand then pressEnterstart

   

2. cliqueUninstall a Programor navigate to the following path by pasting it into the search bar

   Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features

3. cliqueShow installed updatesto see the list of updates

   

4. Now right-click on the Windows update you want to uninstall and click onuninstall
   

   

5. cliqueEwhen the confirmation message appears

   

6. Then check if the issue is resolved.

5. Restart window search in task manager

Windows Search is an essential service because it handles content indexing, property caching, and search results. If this service is not running for some reason then this problem can appear. So check the status of the service as it might not be running and causing this issue. Follow the steps:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and clickTask Manager
   

   

2. ChooseTo search forand clickend task🇧🇷 This will restart the service

   

3. If that doesn't work, press the button.To win+Rto start the Run program
4. Typeservices.mscand clickOK
   

   

5. Locate and right-click on theWindows Searchservice and clickFeatures
   

   

6. If the Startup Type is not set to Automatic, change it toautomaticallyand clickApply
7. When the service is finished, click onstartto run the service and click onOK
   

   

8. Then check if the issue is resolved.

6. Re-create survey items

Rebuilding indexing means removing all indexing content from the database and rebuilding a new database by reindexing everything located on the drives. However, if this method does not correct the problem, resetting the search index using Registry Editor may resolve the issue.

1. To rebuild the index, open the Run program by pressing Win + R at the same time
2. TypeSwitchboardand clickOKto browse

   

3. Choosebig iconsForaSeen byfrom the top right corner

   

4. then clickindex optionsand then clickProgressive
   

   

5. At the end clickRebuild
   

   

6. cliqueOKif a small window appears indicating that it may take a while depending on the system.
7. When you're done, try searching for something now to see if the issue is resolved.

7. Reset or rebuild Windows search index using Regedit

You can also reset Windows Search using Registry Editor, which will also rebuild a new database for indexing. You can follow these steps to do this:

1. tightenwindows+Rbuttons to startroll program
2. Enterregeditin the search box and clickOK
   

   

3. Go to the following path

   Computador\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows-Suche

   Observation:You can paste the address into the search bar for quick navigation.

4. when you see themSetup completed successfullyentry in the right pane, double-click it and change its value to0
   

   

5. Then click onOKand restart your computer to save the changes.
6. Se oSetup completed successfullykey does not exist, right click and move mouse pointerNeuand then clickValor DWORD (32 bits).
   

   

7. saySetup completed successfullyand then change its value to0
   

   

8. When finished, clickOKand restart your computer to reset and rebuild the search index.

8. Use PowerShell Commands to Repair Windows Search

If the problem persists, try reinstalling Windows Search using Powershell commands following these steps:

1. Right click on thestart menuand clickwindows PowerShell (Administrador)
   

   

2. When Powershell is open, paste the following commands one by one

   PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy UnrestrictedGet-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like "*SystemApps*"} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest

   

3. Then check if that resolves the issue.

9. Repair corrupted files

Windows search not working issue can also occur due to corrupted system files. You can easily restore them from the cache by running the SFC command. SFC or System File Checker is a command line tool to repair and recover corrupted files. So, try running the command mentioned below:

1. Right-click Task Manager and clickFile>run new task
   

   

2. Typecmdin the search field and checkCreate this task with admin rights
3. cliqueOKto open command prompt with administrator

   

4. Type the following command and press Enter

   sfc /scan

   

5. Wait for the scan to complete and check if the issue is resolved.

10. Restart your computer

If all else fails to resolve this issue, the last remaining option is to reset Windows without losing data. Remember that your data such as photos, documents and files will not be lost, but all installed apps and drivers will be.

So, if you are unable to restart your computer,computer recoveryputting it in a state where Windows search works might be a good option. However, to restore the previous state, you need a restore point, which must be created before this problem occurs. In this case, we recommend resetting the computer as it worked for most affected users. Here are the steps:

1. To startWindows settingspressingTo win+EUtogether
2. Go toUpdate & Safety
   

   

3. ChooseRestorationin the left pane and clickStartingunderRedefining is PC
   

   

4. Choosekeep my filesand then selectlocal reinstallation
   

   

5. cliqueNextand then clickrestore to default
   

   

6. Wait for the computer to restart
7. Once this is done, the problem should be resolved.