How to fix Windows 10 Search Not Working

If your Windows 10 file search stops working, though, it can be really problematic. Fortunately, getting it back on its feet isn’t as difficult as you might think.

Reason of Search nor working

Updating to the newest version of Windows can sometimes cause a problem with search. Sometimes Cortana, the smart-assistant that powers much of Windows' search functionality can bug out, causing problems for the entire search tool.

Fix Windows 10 Search Problems

You can try all the following method, if you want to fix the search problems:

1. Restarting the Windows

If you haven't tried restarting your device, do so now, as a simple reboot of the system can fix a myriad of problems. It's better to perform a restart than shut down too, as shutdowns can occasionally send your Windows 10 PC into hibernation mode, rather than completely turning it off and on again.

2. Turn off Cortana and then on

Turning Coratna off and on again can do wonders for fixing Windows 10’s file search problems. To do that follow the steps below :-

Right-click your taskbar, or tap and hold on a tablet, and select Task Manager from the drop-down list.
When the Task Manager window appears, make sure you’re looking at the expanded options and select the Processes tab, if not already highlighted.
Select More Details if your Task Manager looks a lot less detailed than the screenshot above.
Sort the processes by Name by selecting the appropriate tab.
Scroll through the list until you find the Cortana process.
Right-click Cortana, then select End task from the menu that appears.

3. Windows Troubleshooter

Microsoft's Windows troubleshooter can often send you in the right direction to learn more or at least pinpoint what the actual problem might be. The same goes for issues with the Windows 10 search bar not working. Follow the steps below to do that:

Open the Windows 10 Settings menu by pressing Ctrl+I on your keyboard, or select the Start button, then select the cog icon.
Select Update and security from within the Settings menu.
Select Troubleshoot from the left-hand menu.
Scroll through the list of options and select Search and indexing.
Select the Run the troubleshooter button.
A new window will then appear asking you what the particular search problem you're facing is. Follow the on-screen instructions and tell it what it needs to know before selecting Next. The troubleshooter will then attempt to fix the problem(s) you've been facing.

4. Checking the Search service

It's always possible the Windows Search service itself has been disabled for some reason.

To re-enable it, or at least confirm it’s still running:

Press Windows key+R to bring up the Run window, then type “Services.msc” before pressing Enter.
When the Services window appears, scroll down the list of services to find Windows Search. If it's already running, right-click it or tap and hold, then select Restart. Alternatively, if it's disabled or has a blank Status, right-click or tap and hold, then select Start.

If this fixes the problem, you’ll want to make sure the service will automatically run when Windows starts. To do so:

Right-click it again or tap and hold, then select Properties.
From the General tab, select the drop-down menu next to Startup type.
Select Automatic.

5. Rebuild Search indexing option

To help it remember, rebuild its indexing options by pressing Windows key+R and typing “Control Panel,” before selecting OK.

Within the Control Panel, with the View by option in the top-right, select Large Icon from the drop-down menu.
Select Indexing Options from the main menu icons.
Select the Advanced button. If prompted, give administrator approval to continue.
Select Rebuild, then select OK. The rebuilding process may take a short time to complete depending on the size of your drive and how full it is.

Hope these method will helps you to fix the search problems in Windows 10. You can ask us any question related to this site in the comment section below.