9 Reasons Why Cortana Doesn’t Work In Windows 10 (and How To Fix It)

A quick answer: if Cortana doesn’t work in Windows 10, it’s usually caused by disabled settings, missing permissions, language/region mismatches, corrupted app files, or system services being blocked — this article walks you through the nine most common causes and how to fix each one step by step.

You’ll learn what specifically to check (microphone, privacy, Windows Update, services, policies, indexing, Microsoft account, app repair), how to run built-in troubleshooters and commands, and how to restore Cortana to working order safely.

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Key Takeaway

The single most effective fix is to ensure Cortana has the right permissions, the correct language/region, the Windows Search service is running, and to repair or reinstall the Cortana app using PowerShell if necessary — together these cover the majority of issues.

Quick Fix Guide

Reason for the Problem	Quick Solution
Cortana is turned off	Turn Cortana on in Settings > Cortana (or Settings > Apps) and sign in with a Microsoft account.
Microphone not working or permission denied	Test and set the default mic in Settings > System > Sound and allow access in Settings > Privacy > Microphone.
Language or region mismatch	Set Settings > Time & Language > Region and Speech to a supported Cortana language.
Windows 10 build out of date	Install latest updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Corrupt Cortana app files	Repair or reinstall Cortana with Settings > Apps > Apps & features or PowerShell re-registration.
Speech & typing / privacy settings disabled	Enable Settings > Privacy > Speech, inking & typing and allow Cortana permissions.
Group Policy or Registry blocking Cortana	Enable Allow Cortana in gpedit.msc or set AllowCortana=1 in Registry.
Windows Search service or index broken	Restart Windows Search in services.msc and rebuild index via Control Panel > Indexing Options.
Microsoft account/sign-in or connectivity issue	Sign in to your Microsoft account at Settings > Accounts and check internet connectivity.

Detailed Fixes for “tu mets ici le problème du 9 reasons why Cortana doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)”.

1) Cortana is turned off or not set up

Why this causes the problem
Cortana needs to be enabled and set up on the PC and, for many personalized features, requires a Microsoft account. If the Cortana toggle is off or you’re using a local account, Cortana won’t respond.

Step-by-step solution

Open Settings > Cortana (or on newer builds Settings > Apps > Apps & features and locate Cortana).
If there is a toggle for Cortana or Hey Cortana, turn it On.
Click Sign in (if shown) and sign in with your Microsoft account.
Follow the setup prompts to allow permissions and enable voice activation.

Notes/tips

Some corporate machines disable Cortana centrally; check with your IT if options are grayed out.

2) Microphone not working or permission denied

Why this causes the problem
If Windows can’t hear you, voice commands won’t work. Cortana also needs permission to access the microphone.

Step-by-step solution

Right-click the speaker icon on the taskbar and choose Open Sound settings (or Settings > System > Sound).
Under Input, make sure the correct microphone is selected and speak to see the Test your microphone bar move.
Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and ensure Allow apps to access your microphone is On.
Scroll and ensure Cortana (or Microsoft Cortana) is allowed to use the microphone.
Run the audio troubleshooter: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Recording Audio.

Notes/tips

Test the mic in another app (Voice Recorder) to isolate the issue.
If USB or Bluetooth mic is used, ensure drivers are installed or try a different USB port.

3) Language or region mismatch

Why this causes the problem
Cortana supports a limited set of languages and regions. If your speech/language settings don’t match a supported language, Cortana won’t activate.

Step-by-step solution

Open Settings > Time & Language > Region and set Country or region to a supported Cortana country (e.g., United States).
Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language and ensure your Windows display language is a Cortana-supported language.
Go to Settings > Time & Language > Speech and set Speech language to the same supported language.
Restart Windows after changes.

Notes/tips

Supported languages vary by Windows build; set both display and speech to the same supported option (commonly English (United States) for best compatibility).
After changing, run Cortana set-up again.

4) Windows 10 build out of date or feature removed

Why this causes the problem
Older builds or insufficient feature updates may have a different Cortana implementation or bugs. Some builds split Cortana into a separate app; using an outdated build can break integration.

Step-by-step solution

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates.
Install all updates, including optional feature updates; restart as required.
If on an older feature update (e.g., version 1507/1511), consider upgrading to a newer supported Windows 10 version.

Notes/tips

Back up important files before major feature upgrades.
If you’re on Windows 10 LTSC, Cortana may be limited or unavailable by design.

5) Corrupt Cortana app or system files

Why this causes the problem
Corrupted app files or system components can stop Cortana from launching or responding.

Step-by-step solution

Try the quick repair: Settings > Apps > Apps & features > find Cortana > Advanced options > select Repair, then Reset if repair fails.
Run system file checks as admin:
- Open Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
- Run: sfc /scannow
- After SFC completes, run:
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
If the app is still broken, re-register Cortana via PowerShell (run PowerShell as admin):
- To re-register:
  Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
Restart your PC.

Notes/tips

Use the Repair option before a full reset to preserve settings.
PowerShell commands affect system apps; copy-paste carefully.

6) Speech & typing or privacy settings disabled

Why this causes the problem
Cortana relies on speech services and typing personalization to interpret voice/text queries. If these privacy features are disabled, Cortana’s intelligence is limited.

Step-by-step solution

Open Settings > Privacy > Speech, inking & typing.
Click Turn on speech services and typing suggestions (or Get to know you in older builds).
Go to Settings > Privacy > Location and enable location if you want location-aware results.
In Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback, set Diagnostic data to Required (if restricted, some features are blocked).

Notes/tips

Enabling these does send data to Microsoft; the page explains what’s shared.

7) Group Policy or Registry blocking Cortana

Why this causes the problem
On work or school machines, admins can disable Cortana via Group Policy or Registry; locally set policies can also disable it.

Step-by-step solution (Group Policy)

Press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search.
Double-click Allow Cortana, set it to Enabled, then click OK.
Run gpupdate /force from an elevated Command Prompt to apply.

Step-by-step solution (Registry)

Press Windows key + R, type regedit, press Enter.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search.
If AllowCortana exists, set it to 1 (DWORD). If not present, create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named AllowCortana and set it to 1.
Restart the PC.

Notes/tips

Editing Group Policy or Registry requires admin rights. If the setting is managed by your organization, contact IT.

8) Windows Search service or index problems

Why this causes the problem
Cortana’s local query processing depends on Windows Search service and the index. If the service is stopped or index is corrupt, Cortana may not return results.

Step-by-step solution

Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
Find Windows Search, double-click, set Startup type to Automatic (Delayed Start) and click Start if it isn’t running.
Rebuild the index: Open Control Panel > Indexing Options > Advanced > Rebuild.
Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Search and Indexing.

Notes/tips

Rebuilding the index can take time; wait for completion before testing Cortana.

9) Microsoft account or connectivity issues

Why this causes the problem
Cortana uses cloud services for intelligence and personalization. If you aren’t signed into a Microsoft account or have a network problem, Cortana may be limited.

Step-by-step solution

Open Settings > Accounts > Your info and ensure you’re signed in with a Microsoft account (not just a local account).
Check network status: Settings > Network & Internet and ensure you have internet access.
Sync your Microsoft account: Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings and click Sync now.
If issues persist, sign out and sign back in: Settings > Accounts > Your info > Sign in with a local account instead then revert to Sign in with a Microsoft account.

Notes/tips

For privacy reasons you can still use some Cortana features without full cloud sign-in, but functionality will be reduced.

Additional tips and diagnostics

Use built-in troubleshooters first: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot provides Search and Indexing, Speech, and Windows Store Apps troubleshooters that often detect common problems.
Check Event Viewer for Cortana-related errors: Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > Cortana (if present) to find specific error codes to search online.
If you use a corporate-managed device, check with IT — some policies intentionally limit Cortana for compliance.
As a last resort, create a new local Windows user profile and sign in with a Microsoft account there to test whether the problem is profile-specific.

FAQ

Q: Can I use Cortana without a Microsoft account?
A: Basic local search may work without a Microsoft account, but full Cortana features (personalized reminders, calendar, email reading) require signing in with a Microsoft account.

Q: Why does Cortana say “I’m having trouble connecting” even though I’m online?
A: Check firewall/antivirus rules and proxy/VPN settings; also ensure Time & Date are correct (Settings > Time & Language) because incorrect system time can block secure connections.

Q: Will reinstalling Cortana delete my data?
A: Reinstalling the Cortana app typically preserves cloud data tied to your Microsoft account; local settings may be reset if you perform a Reset from Apps & features.

Q: How do I prevent future Cortana problems?
A: Keep Windows updated, grant the proper privacy permissions, use a supported speech language, and avoid restrictive Group Policy or Registry changes unless necessary.

Q: Can Cortana be blocked by third-party antivirus?
A: Yes — some security suites may block Cortana’s network access or app execution; temporarily disable the suite to test and create an exception if necessary.

Conclusion

Most Cortana failures in Windows 10 come down to permissions, language/region mismatch, the Windows Search service, or corrupt app files — fixing these restores service in the majority of cases. If Cortana doesn’t work in Windows 10, follow the steps above (permissions, language, updates, SFC/DISM, re-register, and service/index fixes) to get Cortana responding again.

9 reasons why Cortana doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)

Key Takeaway

Quick Fix Guide