[FIXED] Windows Search Not Working | 6 Reliable Solutions

The Issue Windows Search Not Working

Windows Search is a user-friendly service since it can help users to find the program or files quickly. However, some users of Windows 10 complain that they encounter a problem Windows Search not working. Here is a real example:

I just wrote a thread, but somehow it didn’t post. I guess I have to write it again. Anyway, my search menu isn’t working. When I try to search something, all I get is a blank result box.from the tenforums

Thus, do you know how to solve the problem Windows Search service not running in Windows 10? If not, don’t worry. This post will show you 6 solutions for the issue Search not working in Windows 10.

6 Solutions for Windows Search Not Working

In this part we will introduce 6 solutions to solve the problem Windows 10 Search not working. You can read them and have a try.

Suggestion: Back up Files before Fixing the Issue

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Besides backing up the files and folders it can also back up the disk, partition, and even the operating system. One thing you need to know is that backing up the operating system is an effective way to keep the computer safe especially when some accidents happen because you can perform some recovery solutions with the backup image.

Thus, in order to back up the important files so as to provide better protection, you can download MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial which can be used for free within 30 days from the following button.

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Then we will show you how to back up files with this program step by step with pictures. For backing up the operating system you can refer to this post: Easily & Free Create a Windows 10 Image Backup Now – MiniTool.

Step 1: Install the best backup software and launch it, then click Keep Trial. 

Step 2: After entering its main interface please go to the Backup page and choose the SOURCE module to continue. In the popup window, choose Folders and Files and choose what you want to back up.

Step 3: Returning to the main interface please click on the DESTINATION module to choose where you want to save the backup image. Here, it is recommended to choose an external hard drive as the destination path.

In order to provide better protection for data there are three important things you need to pay attention to.

• To better protect data, MiniTool ShadowMaker enables you to create an automatic file backup. Thus, you just need to click Schedule Settings in Options button to set the backup task on a regular basis.
• MiniTool ShadowMaker also provides three different backup schemes which include Full, Incremental and Differential schemes. The Incremental Backup Schemes is chosen by default and you can click Backup Scheme button to change it to another.
• The Backup Options enables you to set some advanced backup parameters. For example, you can encrypt the backup image.

Step 4: When you have successfully chosen the backup source and destination you can click Back Up Now to perform the backup task immediately or you can choose to delay the backup task by clicking Back Up Later.

When you have successfully created the backup image it is time to go forward to the solutions to Windows 10 Search not working.

MiniTool ShadowMaker helps me to back up all my important files so as to keep my data safe. And it is very easy to operate. Click to Tweet

Solution 1. End Cortana Process

Here, the first method to solve the problem Windows 10 Search bar not working is to end the Cortana process. We will show you how to solve the Cortana not working issue step by step.

Step 1: Right-click the taskbar at the bottom of your computer desktop and choose Task Manager to continue. Or you can press Ctrl, Shift and Esc keys together to open the Task Manager window directly.

Step 2: In the Task Manager window find Cortana and right-click it to choose End task to disable the Cortana process.

After that you can restart your computer to check whether the issue type here to search not working is solved.

If this method doesn’t work, you need to go to the following methods.

Related article: How Do I Fix Windows 10 Start Menu Not Working Quickly?

Solution 2. Restart the Search Service

Here, we will introduce the second method to solve the issue Windows 10 searching not working. This method is mainly to restart the search service. You can go on based on the following instructions to solve the Windows Search not working problem.

Step 1: Press the Windows key and R key together to open the Run dialog. Type services.msc in the box and hit Enter or click OK to continue.

Step 2: In the Services window find Windows Search and right-click it, choose Restart from the context menu to continue.

When the process is finished you can restart your computer to check whether the issue Windows 10 Search bar not working is solved.

Solution 3. Rebuild the Index

Now, we will introduce the third method to solve the problem Search not working in Windows 10. As a matter of fact, you can try to rebuild the index to fix the problem type here to search not working if the above two methods don’t work.

To rebuild the index please kindly follow the below given steps.

Step 1: Press the Windows key and R key together to open Run dialog. Type Control Panel in the box and click OK or hit Enter to continue.

Step 2: In the popup window choose Indexing Options to continue.

Step 3: In the Indexing Options window click the Advanced button to continue.

Step 4: Next, you need to click the Rebuild button under Troubleshooting to go on.

Step 5: You will receive a message which tells that the process of rebuilding the index will take a long time. You should click OK to continue.

When the rebuild index process is finished you can reboot your computer to check whether the issue Windows 10 Search bar not working is solved.

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Solution 4. Run System File Checker

If there are corrupted system files on your computer, you may encounter the error Cortana Search not working. Thus, we will introduce the fourth method to solve the issue Windows 10 Search bar not working.

In fact, this method tries to run the System File Checker to fix the Windows Search issue. For more detailed instructions you can continue your reading.

Step 1: Right-click the taskbar at the bottom of your computer desktop and choose Task Manager to continue.

Step 2: In the popup window click File and choose Run new task.

Step 3: Type cmd in the box and make sure that the Create this task with administrative privileges option is checked and then click OK to continue.

Step 4: In the popup command line window type the command sfc /scannow and hit Enter to continue.

Step 5: The scanning process will begin and it may take a few minutes. Please don’t close and exit this command line window until you receive a message which tells you the verification is 100% completed.

When the scanning process is completed you can restart your computer to check whether the issue Windows 10 Search not working is solved.

Related article: Quickly Fix – SFC Scannow Not Working (Focus on 2 Cases)

Solution 5. Run Search and Index Troubleshooter

In this part, we will introduce the fifth method to fix the issue Windows Search not working, which is mainly to run the Search and Index Troubleshooter. Proceed with the following instructions.

Step 1: Press the Windows key and R key together to open Run dialog. Type Control Panel in the box and click OK or hit Enter to continue.

Step 2: In the popup window choose Troubleshooting to continue.

Step 3: Next, click View all in the left window to go on.

Step 4: Then click Search and Indexing.

Step 5: In the popup window click Next to continue and the Troubleshooter will run.

Step 6: Next, you need to check the problems you have encountered and click Next to go on.

Step 7: Then, Troubleshooter will detect the problems and try to fix them. When the troubleshooting process is finished you can reboot your computer and try to check whether the issue Windows 10 type here to search not working is solved.

8 Useful Fixes for an Error Occurred While Troubleshooting!

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Solution 6. Run DISM Tool

Now, we will introduce the last method to fix the problem Windows Search not working. In this method, you can use the DISM tool to fix the Cortana not working issue.

Step 1: You need to enter the command line windows again. For the detailed instructions, please refer to the fourth method.

Step 2: When you have opened the command line window please type the following commands and press Enter after each command.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Step 3: This process will take a long time. Please don’t close the command line window when it is finished.

When all the steps are finished you can reboot your computer to check whether the issue Windows Search bar not working is solved.

After you have solved the problem Search not working in Windows 10, it is recommended to create a backup image using MiniTool ShadowMaker. In this way, you can protect your computer and data as well.

In addition, if your computer encounters some other problems you can use the backup image to restore the computer to an earlier state rather than reinstalling the operating system.

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I had the problem Windows Search not working, but I had successfully solved this problem after I tried the solutions introduced in this article. Click to Tweet

Bottom Line

In conclusion, this article has introduced 6 methods to solve the Windows Search not working problem. You can give them to have a try.

On the other hand, if you have any better solutions to fix the Windows Search problem, please share them in the comment zone.

And if you have any problems with MiniTool ShadowMaker, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the email [email protected].

Windows Search Not Working FAQ