Windows search menu issue


acgriffin

New member
Local time
8:58 AM
Posts
11
OS
Windows 11
I use windows 11 and whenever I press the windows key and try to start typing, instead of typing it highlights a program with a first letter that matches the letter I typed. (ex. I type W it highlights Microsoft Word, I type E it highlights Microsoft Excel) Ive done some looking around in settings and online and haven't found another. I'm guessing its some obscure setting I have activated but I have no idea how to fix it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
That's the way it's designed to work. From the search box just keep typing and search results will change according to what you type. For example, I want to search for power options. As soon as I type P it shows Powershell app. After I've typed Power op search results show edit power plan.

EDIT- you can disable Bing searches from being in your search results using option 3 here. Enable or Disable Search the Web with Bing in Windows Search in Windows 11 Tutorial
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
That's the way it's designed to work. From the search box just keep typing and search results will change according to what you type. For example, I want to search for power options. As soon as I type P it shows Powershell app. After I've typed Power op search results show edit power plan.

EDIT- you can disable Bing searches from being in your search results using option 3 here. Enable or Disable Search the Web with Bing in Windows Search in Windows 11 Tutorial
Unfortunately it doesn't let me type anything, when I try to type a word it selects a different app the first letter matching each letter I type in the word.

If I try to type premiere pro, it will highlight "powerpoint" when I type P, then it won't highlight anything for R, then it will highlight "microsoft edge" when I type E, "mail" when I type M etc.

The problem is that it wont let me type a full word at all, it will just highlight apps based on each individual letter I type
If I try to click on the search box in the menu to search something with a full word, it just closes the menu.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Try the following suggestions, checking search function after each one.

If you are using any 3rd party app that affects the GUI eg:explorerpatcher, startallback, openshell, etc, uninstall it to see if search will work.

Check for file system corruption. Open a command prompt as administrator and type sfc /scannow
Pay attention to the scan results to see if SFC found anything it could not repair. If it found corruption it could not fix followup with this command (note the spaces)
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Restart computer

Cleanup the component store - Open a command prompt as administrator and type
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase
If none of that fixes search perform a repair install. Repair Install Windows 11 Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

Latest Support Threads

Back
Top Bottom