Can't Open .txt Files Using Windows Search win 11

glasskuter said:

What happens when you right click a .txt file>select open with, select notepad, then select every time
By the way, you are selecting a particular .txt file from the search results. Correct?
If that doesn't work, you can try option2 here for .txt
Reset and Restore Default Apps for File Types in Windows 11

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glasskuter said:

What happens when you right click a .txt file>select open with, select notepad, then select every time
By the way, you are selecting a particular .txt file from the search results. Correct?
If that doesn't work, you can try option2 here for .txt
Reset and Restore Default Apps for File Types in Windows 11

Click to expand...

• Open CMD (command prompt) as Admin & run:
  • DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"SearchEngine-Client-Package"
  
  
• Reboot your PC
  
  
• Open CMD (command prompt) as Admin & run:
  • DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"SearchEngine-Client-Package"
  
  
• Reboot your PC again
  
  
• Open CMD (command prompt) as Admin & run:
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  
  
• Then run SFC
  • sfc /scannow

antspants said:

For what it’s worth, try to remove then replace the search feature
Open a command prompt as admin, then run (click command below to copy to clipboard):

• Open CMD (command prompt) as Admin & run:
  • DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"SearchEngine-Client-Package"
  
  
• Reboot your PC
  
  
• Open CMD (command prompt) as Admin & run:
  • DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"SearchEngine-Client-Package"
  
  
• Reboot your PC again
  
  
• Open CMD (command prompt) as Admin & run:
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  
  
• Then run SFC
  • sfc /scannow

Click to expand...

randomdude said:

okay, i will update you, currently stuck at DISM 62.3 lol

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antspants said:

That’s a common place to have it look like it has stalled, it hasn’t.
I have a really old Acer laptop that I am fixing up for someone, SFC has been idle at 62.3% for 18 hours.

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randomdude said:

unfortunately it didnt work.

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Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

Restart Windows Search Service​

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type services.msc and hit Enter.
3. Locate Windows Search in the list.
4. Right-click on it and select Restart.

Restart File Explorer​

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Find Windows Explorer in the list.
3. Right-click on it and select Restart.

Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter​

1. Open Settings from the Start menu.
2. Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Find Search and Indexing and click Run.

Rebuild the Search Index​

1. Open Settings and go to Privacy & Security > Searching Windows.
2. Click on Advanced indexing options.
3. In the pop-up, click Advanced and then select Rebuild.

Check Folder Indexing Settings​

1. Right-click on the folder you are searching in.
2. Select Properties.
3. Ensure that Allow files in this folder to have contents indexed is checked.

Additional Considerations​

• Ensure that your Windows 11 is up to date by checking for updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
• If third-party antivirus software is installed, consider temporarily disabling it to see if it affects search functionality.

Spunk said:

Restart Windows Search Service​

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type services.msc and hit Enter.
3. Locate Windows Search in the list.
4. Right-click on it and select Restart.

Restart File Explorer​

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Find Windows Explorer in the list.
3. Right-click on it and select Restart.

Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter​

1. Open Settings from the Start menu.
2. Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Find Search and Indexing and click Run.

Rebuild the Search Index​

1. Open Settings and go to Privacy & Security > Searching Windows.
2. Click on Advanced indexing options.
3. In the pop-up, click Advanced and then select Rebuild.

Check Folder Indexing Settings​

1. Right-click on the folder you are searching in.
2. Select Properties.
3. Ensure that Allow files in this folder to have contents indexed is checked.

Additional Considerations​

• Ensure that your Windows 11 is up to date by checking for updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
• If third-party antivirus software is installed, consider temporarily disabling it to see if it affects search functionality.

These steps should help you regain the ability to click on files in your search results.

Click to expand...

antspants said:

Consider the in place upgrade. I can’t promis it will fix the issue, but it’s worth a shot.

Also, you may want to create a new temp user account. You can delete it when you’re finished.

Just to find out if this is profile based and tied to your account..

Add Local User Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to create and add a local account as a user on the PC in Windows 11. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser favorites, and...

www.elevenforum.com

Delete User Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to delete a user account to remove it from your Windows 11 PC. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser favorites, and desktop...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

antspants said:

Consider the in place upgrade. I can’t promis it will fix the issue, but it’s worth a shot.

Also, you may want to create a new temp user account. You can delete it when you’re finished.

Just to find out if this is profile based and tied to your account..

Add Local User Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to create and add a local account as a user on the PC in Windows 11. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser favorites, and...

www.elevenforum.com

Delete User Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to delete a user account to remove it from your Windows 11 PC. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser favorites, and desktop...

www.elevenforum.com

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randomdude said:

I created a test admin account and it worked! lol not sure how can i able to transfer all those apps into a new user
Can i still fix this without creating another user?

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antspants said:

There have been posts before. Start a new thread about creating a new User Account and migrating the old account.
Others know how to do this, I don’t.

As for options, I would try the in-place upgrade first, then migrate to a new user account if that fails.
They’re the only to suggestions I have left

Click to expand...

antspants said:

Sorry to read that, dude.

Can I suggest a Repair Install In-Place Upgrade?
Follow the tutorial properly and you wont lose anything.

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

If your PC is Windows 11 Ready, Use Option One, otherwise Option 2 using a USB Win 11 Media created by Rufus

Click to expand...

QuicktellPro said:

Interestingly, I attempted to reproduce this fault and found Windows search was unable to find a file that I use daily. I used this file merely as a test. To be honest, I don't care because I rarely use Windows search, preferring to use the search option in my file manager, Xplorer2. Running the same test in that located the file instantly.

Although it will probably not solve the issue of opening text files from Windows search, I wonder why you are using Notepad anyway? It is vastly inferior to the myriad of freeware Notepad replacements available, and I cite Notepad++ as one example. Perhaps you could try that to see if your text files will open with it in Windows search. One thing is for sure; once you have tried Notepad++, you will never want to go back to Windows Notepad.

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randomdude said:

but i have used notepad++ before for editing hex etc

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