Windows search problems


acahan1

Member
Local time
9:38 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

System One

  • 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

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro; Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-12700K (Alder Lake)
    Motherboard
    Asus PRIME Z690-M Plus D4
    Memory
    16 GB (2x8 Corsair DDR4-2132)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GeForce 1050 Ti, 4 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 235PQ
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Windows 11: Samsung SSD 870 EVO, 500 GB (SATA), MBR
    Windows 8.1: Samsung SSD 980 PRO, 500 GB (M.2), MBR
    PSU
    Platimax D.F. 1050 W (80 Plus Platinum)
    Internet Speed
    Local link 1 Gbps, provider's line 500 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Other Info
    Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller (for Windows 8.1 compatibility)
    Microsoft Office H&S 2013 x64
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.
Hello,
I did all you said. But it didn't
 

My Computer

System One

  • 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,
I did all you said. But it didn't
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

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro; Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-12700K (Alder Lake)
    Motherboard
    Asus PRIME Z690-M Plus D4
    Memory
    16 GB (2x8 Corsair DDR4-2132)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GeForce 1050 Ti, 4 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 235PQ
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Windows 11: Samsung SSD 870 EVO, 500 GB (SATA), MBR
    Windows 8.1: Samsung SSD 980 PRO, 500 GB (M.2), MBR
    PSU
    Platimax D.F. 1050 W (80 Plus Platinum)
    Internet Speed
    Local link 1 Gbps, provider's line 500 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Other Info
    Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller (for Windows 8.1 compatibility)
    Microsoft Office H&S 2013 x64
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

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
You can try Windows 10 PowerShell script to fix problems with Windows Search by running the Reset_Windows_Search.bat batch script.
 

Attachments

  • ResetWindowsSearch.zip
    1.9 KB · Views: 7

My Computer

System One

  • 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

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
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

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro Version 22H2(OS Build 22621.963)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    AMD
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8 Core
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte X570 Aorus Pro WiFi
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    PCI Express 3.0 x16: PowerColor RX Vega 56 Red Dragon
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220 and AMD Greenland - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 - 27 inch Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    2 SSD - 2 TB each
    1 HDD - 2 TB
    Keyboard
    logitech
    Mouse
    logitech
    Internet Speed
    1 GB
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Avast Premium
@FreeBooter Good to have a script for that. Does your script have to be run as administrator?
There is a code in the script that will prompt AUC permission to execute script with administrative privileges.
 

My Computer

System One

  • 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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