Fix problems in Windows Search

If Windows Search is unresponsive or the search results don’t appear as expected, try any of the following solutions in this article.

If you’re running Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) or later versions and Windows can detect a problem, we’ll run the Search troubleshooter automatically. This troubleshooter will reset Windows Search back to the default experience. View your troubleshooter history under Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > View History. Follow the steps below if your issue is still not resolved.

Original product version: В Windows 10 — all editions
Original KB number: В 4520146

Check for updates

Windows 10 lets you choose when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. To manage your options and see any available updates, select the Start button, and then go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. Install any available updates, and then restart your computer if the updates require it.

For more information, see Update Windows 10.

Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter

Your PC automatically indexes content to deliver faster search results. Learn more about Search indexing in Windows 10.

Use the Windows Search and Indexing troubleshooter to try to fix any problems that may arise. To use the troubleshooter, follow these steps:

1. Select Start, then select Settings.
2. In Windows Settings, select Update & Security >Troubleshoot. Under Find and fix other problems, select Search and Indexing.
3. Run the troubleshooter, and select any problems that apply. Windows will try to detect and solve them.

You can also use a command prompt to open the troubleshooter. Press Windows logo key+R, enter cmd in the Open box, and then select OK. At the command prompt, run the following command:

Restart Windows Search or your device

End the SearchUI process to restart Windows Search by following these steps:

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, and select Task Manager.
2. In the Task Manager window, select the Details tab.
3. In the Name column, right-click SearchUI.exe, and then select End task.
4. When you’re prompted to end SearchUI.exe, select End process.

The Windows Search process will automatically restart the next time that you search.

If this solution doesn’t fix your problem, try restarting your device. Restarting will also install any pending updates.

You may want to bookmark this page before you restart.

Reset Windows Search

Try resetting Windows Search by using the method that’s appropriate for your version of Windows.

To determine which version of Windows your device is running, follow these steps:

Select Start > Settings > System > About.

Under Windows specifications, check which version of Windows your device is running.

Resetting Windows Search does not affect your files. However, it may temporarily affect the relevance of search results.

Windows 10, version 1809 and earlier

If the Windows 10 October 2018 Update or an earlier update is installed, reset Cortana to reset Windows Search by following these steps:

1. Select Start, right-click Cortana, select More, and then select App settings.
2. In the Cortana settings, select Reset.

Windows 10, version 1903 and later

If the Windows 10 May 2019 Update or a later update is installed, use Windows PowerShell to reset Windows Search by following these steps:

You must have administrator permissions to run this script.

Download the ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1 script from the Reset Windows Search PowerShell script, and save the file to a local folder.

Right-click the file that you saved, and select Run with PowerShell.

If you’re asked the following question, select Yes.

Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?

The PowerShell script resets the Windows Search feature. When the word Done appears, close the PowerShell window.

If you receive the following error message:

Cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system

enter the following command on the command line of the PowerShell window, and then press Enter:

The current policy appears in the window. For example, you might see Restricted. We recommend that you note this value because you’ll have to use it later.

Enter the following command on the command line of the PowerShell window, and then press Enter:

You’ll receive a warning message that explains the security risks of an execution policy change. Press Y, and then press Enter to accept the change.

To learn more about PowerShell execution policies, see About Execution Policies.

After the policy change is completed, close the window, and then repeat steps 2-4. However, when the Done message appears this time, DON’T close the PowerShell window. Instead, press any key to continue.

Revert to your previous PowerShell execution policy setting. Enter the following command on the command line of the PowerShell window, press the Spacebar, enter the policy value that you noted in step 5, and then press Enter:

For example, if the policy that you noted in step 5 was Restricted, the command would resemble the following one:

You’ll receive a warning message that explains the security risks of an execution policy change. Press Y, and then press Enter to accept the change and revert to your previous policy setting.

Close the PowerShell window.

If your organization has disabled the ability to run scripts, contact your administrator for help.

Help us improve Search in Windows 10

If the previous suggestions don’t fix the problem, let us know by sending feedback in the Feedback Hub. Provide details, such as a description of the problem, screenshots, log files, and any other information that might be helpful. In the Feedback Hub, select the appropriate category and subcategory. In this case, submit your feedback in the Cortana and Search category.

Search function in Windows Explorer not working

Original Title: search

I am runnning Windows 7 . When I put a search term in the Start menue search field I gat results if the file name matches the search term.

When I place a search term in the upper right hand of a Windows folder I never get any results even though I am certain there are many files in the folder or subfolders that meet my search term.

As far as I can tell my indexing options are OK Thanks for your suggestions.

I would apprecite

Did you recently made any changes to your computer before the search in Windows explorer stopped working?

Windows 7 contains several troubleshooting programs that can automatically fix some common problems with your computer. One among them is Search and Indexing troubleshooter. Although troubleshooters aren’t designed to fix every problem, they are a useful thing to try first, as they can often save your time and effort.

Step 1: Use Search and Indexing troubleshooter

The troubleshooter makes sure that the Windows Search service is running, and checks to see whether you have the correct permissions to search all the directories on your computer.

Step 2: Create a new explorer process by terminating the current instances of explorer process and then try searching for files and folders.

a. Click Start button.

b. Hold CTRL + SHIFT and then right click on the empty area in the start menu (just above shutdown button).

c. Exit Explorer will appear in the pop up menu, click on it to terminate all running explorer processes.

d. Create a new explorer process by right clicking on the taskbar and clicking on Start task manager.

e. Click on File menu and click on New (task)

f. In the dialog box, type “explorer.exe” (without quotes) and press OK.

g. In the new windows explorer, use the search function to search for files and folders.

Now check if you get the desired results.

Step 3: Rebuild search index

Important: The instructions below contain steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

a. Click Windows + R (Opens run window)

b. Type regedit and press Enter.

c. In registry editor, windows locate:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

d. In the right pane, right click on ‘SetupCompletedSuccessfully’ and click on Modify.

Note: If ‘SetupCompletedSuccessfully’ is not there, then in the right pane, right click on

an empty area and click on ‘New’ select ‘DWORD (32 bit)’ Value and type SetupCompletedSuccessfully and press Enter.

e. Type 0 and click on OK.

Note: This is the number zero.

f. Close regedit and restart the computer.

Note: Resetting the registry to 0 will also remove the drives you may have set previously

from the list of “Included Locations” in Indexing Options. So you will need to add

those back in through the “Modify” button. > Show All Locations > Check the

drives you want indexed.

Next in Indexing Options you can rebuild the index by clicking through the Modify button and then clicking rebuild new index.

Hope this information is helpful and let me know if you need any further assistance.

Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support

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How to clear search history in File Explorer on Windows 10

Source: Windows Central

On Windows 10, File Explorer keeps a history of the most recent search queries typed in the box in the top-right corner. Then when you type in the search box again, it makes them available in a drop-down list in case you want to repeat the search quickly.

Although search history can come in handy in many situations, if you don’t want to see a specific entry in the list, or you share the device with other people. You don’t want anyone to see your search history, Windows 10 provides multiple ways to delete (or disable) search history entirely using File Explorer, Registry, and Group Policy.

In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to clear the search history in File Explorer. Also, if the feature isn’t for you, we’ll also outline the steps to disable search history entirely.

How to delete search history using File Explorer

To remove the search history in File Explorer, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Search for anything to make available the «Search» tab.

Click the Recent searches option from the «Search» tab.

Source: Windows Central

Click the Clear search history option.

Once you complete the steps, recent searches will no longer be available in the history list.

How to delete search history using Registry

Alternatively, you can also clear the list of recent searches in File Explorer using the Registry.

Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky, and it can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don’t do it correctly. It’s recommended to make a full backup of your PC before proceeding.

To clear your recent search history, close File Explorer, and use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

Browse the following path:

Quick tip: On Windows 10, you can now copy and paste the path in the Registry’s address bar to quickly jump to the key destination.

Select the DWORD keys storing the search history value.

Quick note: The keys are enumerated from «0» through the highest number that represents the last search. You can also delete only specific entries from the history. The highest number in the name of the DWORD represents the most recent entry in File Explorer.

Right-click the selection and choose the Delete option.

Source: Windows Central

Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the next time you open File Explorer, you should no longer see any history entry as you perform a new search.

How to disable File Explorer search history using Group Policy

If you’re running Windows 10 Pro (or Enterprise), you can disable the ability for File Explorer to record your search entries using the Group Policy Editor.

To disable search history in File Explorer, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for gpedit.msc and click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Browse the following path:

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

On the right side, double-click the Turn off display of recent search entries in the File Explorer search box policy.

Source: Windows Central

Select the Enabled option.

Source: Windows Central

Click the Apply button.

Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, File Explorer will no longer show the history of searches as you type new entries in the search box.

In case you change your mind, you can roll back the previous settings using the same instructions, but on step No. 5, select the Not Configured option.

How to disable File Explorer search history using Registry

Also, you can disable recent searches list in File Explorer using the Registry.

To disable search suggestions, close File Explorer, and use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

Browse the following path:

Right-click the Explorer key, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Source: Windows Central

Double-click the newly created key and set the value from 0 to 1.

Source: Windows Central

Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the search history feature will no longer be available in File Explorer, but you’ll still be able to perform searches regularly.

If you want to revert the changes, you can always use the same instructions, but on step No. 3, right-click the DisableSearchBoxSuggestions DWORD and select the Delete option.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

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