Windows search problems


A

acahan1

Member
Local time
11:00 AM
Posts
2
OS
Windows 11
Hello In Windows 11, the search box does not work. I haven't been able to fix the problem.
 
Windows Build/Version
21H2 22000.348

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11Intel 78 GBNvidia 330 MX
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell 5500
CPU
Intel 7
Memory
8 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia 330 MX
Screen Resolution
1920X1080
Internet Speed
100 mbit
Browser
Edge
Antivirus
Norton
Hello,

First of all, check whether search service is working. Go to Computer Management > Services and Applications > Services > Windows Search. This service should be running and use the Automatic or Automatic (Delayed Start) startup type. Then look for search settings: Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows. Look which locations are included to search, Classic may be the most safe option, Enhanced requires more time for building the index. Check the excluded folders here as well.

If the service is running and settings are OK, try to use search boxes in different places: in Settings, in Explorer, in Start menu. Check if it works at least somewhere or doesn't work at all. In the last case, try to use the troubleshooter: Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows > Indexer troubleshooter.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro 25H2AMD Rysen 5 4600H32 GB (2 x 16 GB Samsung SO-DIMM DDR4-3200)GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, 4 GB GDDR6
OS
Windows 11 Pro 25H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Lenovo Legion 5-15ARH05
CPU
AMD Rysen 5 4600H
Memory
32 GB (2 x 16 GB Samsung SO-DIMM DDR4-3200)
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, 4 GB GDDR6
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
SSD M.2 512 GB SAMSUNG MZALQ512; SSD M.2 1 TB Seagate FireCuda 530
Mouse
Logitech M650L in Bluetooth mode
Slavic said:
Hello,

First of all, check whether search service is working. Go to Computer Management > Services and Applications > Services > Windows Search. This service should be running and use the Automatic or Automatic (Delayed Start) startup type. Then look for search settings: Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows. Look which locations are included to search, Classic may be the most safe option, Enhanced requires more time for building the index. Check the excluded folders here as well.

If the service is running and settings are OK, try to use search boxes in different places: in Settings, in Explorer, in Start menu. Check if it works at least somewhere or doesn't work at all. In the last case, try to use the troubleshooter: Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows > Indexer troubleshooter.
Click to expand...
Hello,
I did all you said. But it didn't
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11Intel 78 GBNvidia 330 MX
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell 5500
CPU
Intel 7
Memory
8 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia 330 MX
Screen Resolution
1920X1080
Internet Speed
100 mbit
Browser
Edge
Antivirus
Norton
acahan1 said:
Hello,
I did all you said. But it didn't
Click to expand...
I am afraid I cannot help you with such few info, and hardly someone else can. It would be much better to explain the problem in details: what you see when trying to search in Settings, in Explorer, in Start menu. Search in Settings should always work because it shows the results within Settings UI. If you tried to use the troubleshooter, which option(s) you have selected and which results got, also which were the error messages, if any.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro 25H2AMD Rysen 5 4600H32 GB (2 x 16 GB Samsung SO-DIMM DDR4-3200)GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, 4 GB GDDR6
OS
Windows 11 Pro 25H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Lenovo Legion 5-15ARH05
CPU
AMD Rysen 5 4600H
Memory
32 GB (2 x 16 GB Samsung SO-DIMM DDR4-3200)
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, 4 GB GDDR6
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
SSD M.2 512 GB SAMSUNG MZALQ512; SSD M.2 1 TB Seagate FireCuda 530
Mouse
Logitech M650L in Bluetooth mode
Here are a few things to try. Hopefully one will work for you. Check search between steps.
  • Restart you computer if you haven’t already
  • Open the Run dialog box WIN+R. You don't even need to enter anything! It's an odd solution, but seems to work for people who run into the issue where the search bar isn't letting you type.
  • From task Manager-click Details tab. Find searchhost.exe. Right click on it and end process.
  • Launch run dialog using Win+R. Type services.msc. Stop the Windows Search service and then start it again.
  • Rebuild search index from settings- search-searching windows-customize search locations-advanced-rebuild
  • Run the troubleshooter. Settings-update and security-troubleshoot-additional troubleshooters-search and indexing-
  • Make sure windows update is up to date
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9168i9-10900 10 core 20 threads32 gbnone-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9168
    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
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.9168AMD Ryzen 7 6800U32 gbintegrated
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.9168
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.9168
You can try Windows 10 PowerShell script to fix problems with Windows Search by running the Reset_Windows_Search.bat batch script.
 

Attachments

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11AMD Ryzen 7 5700GMicron Technology DDR4-3200 16GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP Pavilion
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Motherboard
Erica6
Memory
Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Sound Card
Realtek ALC671
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
Screen Resolution
3840 x 2160
Hard Drives
SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
@FreeBooter Good to have a script for that. Does your script have to be run as administrator?
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9168i9-10900 10 core 20 threads32 gbnone-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9168
    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
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.9168AMD Ryzen 7 6800U32 gbintegrated
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.9168
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.9168
I had the exact same problem. 2 things fixed it for me.
1 - Update windows to latest including any of the the optional cumulative updates.
2 - I ran a script in Powershell, run as administrator, and then went into services and started the Windows search set to automatic
oh and i had to open "Indexing Options" and set it to the drives etc I want to index and I had to turn Indexing on as well
that solved my problem. Sorry I dont know the script now but the other Gurus on here most likely do..sorry thats all I can say for ya.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro Version 23H2(OS Build 22631.4890)12-Core AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, 4950 MHz (49.5 x 100)4 - G Skill Trident Z Neo F4-3600C16-16GTZNCPCI Express 4.0 x16: PowerColor RX 6800
OS
Windows 11 Pro Version 23H2(OS Build 22631.4890)
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
AMD
CPU
12-Core AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, 4950 MHz (49.5 x 100)
Motherboard
Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master
Memory
4 - G Skill Trident Z Neo F4-3600C16-16GTZNC
Graphics Card(s)
PCI Express 4.0 x16: PowerColor RX 6800
Sound Card
Realtek ALC1220 @ AMD K19.2 - High Definition Audio Controller
Monitor(s) Displays
2 - 27 inch Westinghouse
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
2 SSD - 2 TB each
1 SSD - 4TB
1 HDD - 2TB
Keyboard
logitech
Mouse
logitech
Internet Speed
1 GB
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
Eset Endpoint Security
glasskuter said:
@FreeBooter Good to have a script for that. Does your script have to be run as administrator?
Click to expand...
There is a code in the script that will prompt AUC permission to execute script with administrative privileges.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11AMD Ryzen 7 5700GMicron Technology DDR4-3200 16GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP Pavilion
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Motherboard
Erica6
Memory
Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Sound Card
Realtek ALC671
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
Screen Resolution
3840 x 2160
Hard Drives
SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
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