One of the most important features of Windows 10 is its search functionality. It enables you to search not only local files and folders on the computer but also Bing, OneDrive, and more. It is a core component of Microsoft’s desktop operating system, but it has a bad habit of acting up now and then. So if you are facing problems with Windows 10 search (not working, errant results, indexing issues, etc.) and looking for ways to fix them, you’ve come to the right place.
Windows Search is an essential tool that most of us use multiple times each day. So naturally, a dysfunctional search feature can greatly hinder productivity. The good news is, there are several ways to fix the search feature if it’s not working on your Windows 10 computer. In this article, we detail these methods to help you solve any problems with Windows 10 search.
- Use Windows Troubleshooter to Fix Search Problems
- Fix Windows Search Using Index Settings
- Download Indexer Diagnostics on Windows 10
- Restart Windows Search
- Restart SearchUI.exe to Get Search Working on Windows 10
- Reset Search on Windows 10 Using PowerShell
1. Use Windows Troubleshooter to Fix Search Problems
Windows 10 comes with a new built-in troubleshooting tool that can help you address issues with Windows Search. It is the first thing you should do if the search function on your Windows 10 PC stops working. To use the feature, follow these steps:
Note: You can also open the search troubleshooter from Command Prompt using the following command: msdt -ep WindowsHelp id SearchDiagnostic
2. Fix Windows Search Index Settings
The built-in troubleshooter can take care of most issues affecting Search on Windows 10. However, if it doesn’t solve your problem, you can try rebuilding the index database to fix search problems in Windows 10. For that, try the following steps:
The above method will clear and rebuild the index database. It will take a long time, but once complete, the search function on Windows 10 should start working as usual.
Microsoft also offers a diagnostics tool called ‘Indexer Diagnostics’. It enables users to do additional troubleshooting to detect potential issues affecting the Search Indexer service. “Indexing is the process of looking at files, email messages, and other content on your PC and cataloging their information, such as the words and metadata in them. When you search your PC after indexing, it looks at an index of terms to find results faster”, Microsoft says in its official document on Search Indexing in Windows 10.
If none of the steps above help fix your problem, try restarting the Windows search service. Here’s how you do it:
Open the Run dialog box by hitting ‘Windows key + R’ simultaneously. Then, type-in services.msc and click OK.
Open Task Manager by hitting the Windows 10 keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your computer. Go to the ‘Details’ tab at the top. Then, right-click on the SearchUI.exe process, and select ‘End Task’ from the pop-up menu. Confirm your choice when asked.
The SearchUI process will restart automatically within seconds. If it doesn’t, restart your computer. If the search functionality is not working on your Windows 10 PC, that should fix the problem right away.
If Search is not working on your Windows 10 PC, you can also reset it using PowerShell. However, this method only works on Windows 10 version 1903 or higher. So update your PC to the latest version of Windows 10 to complete the following steps.
Note: The default execution policy in Windows is ‘Restricted’. However, you can check the current setting using the following command Get-ExecutionPolicy. If it says ‘Unrestricted’ instead of ‘Restricted’, skip the above step and go straight to the step below.
