Windows Search not working in Windows 10 can be fixed in many cases by checking the search service, rebuilding the index, or repairing corrupted system files — most problems are resolvable without reinstalling Windows.
The root causes range from a stopped Windows Search service, corrupted index data, or a broken SearchUI/Cortana process to misconfigured Group Policy, antivirus interference, or recent Windows updates. In this article you’ll learn 13 common causes and step-by-step fixes so you can restore search functionality quickly.
Key Takeaway
The fastest reliable fix is to ensure the Windows Search service is running, run the built-in Search and Indexing troubleshooter, and rebuild the search index; if those fail, run SFC and DISM to repair system files and check for third-party software or policy settings blocking search.
Quick Fix Guide
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Windows Search service stopped or disabled | Start and set Windows Search service to Automatic (Delayed Start). |
| SearchUI/Cortana process crashed | Restart SearchUI.exe or sign out/sign in (or restart Explorer). |
| Corrupted search index | Rebuild the index via Control Panel > Indexing Options > Advanced > Rebuild. |
| Indexer is paused or overloaded | Open Indexing Options and resume/restart indexing; exclude heavy folders. |
| Important folders not indexed | Add folders in Indexing Options > Modify. |
| Recent Windows update broke search | Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter and uninstall problematic update if needed. |
| Corrupted system files | Run SFC /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. |
| Group Policy or registry disables search | Check gpedit.msc and registry keys under …\Windows Search and enable search. |
| Permissions issue on index data folder | Give SYSTEM and your user Full Control on %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Search\Data. |
| Third-party antivirus or firewall interfering | Temporarily disable AV or add exclusions for Search processes and index folder. |
| File Explorer search settings misconfigured | Reset File Explorer options in File Explorer Options > Search tab. |
| Search app/Cortana needs reset or reinstall | Reset via Settings > Apps > Apps & features or re-register via PowerShell. |
| Low disk space or high CPU/IO | Free disk space and stop heavy tasks so indexer can run. |
Detailed Fixes for “Windows Search doesn’t work in Windows 10”
Below are step-by-step explanations and fixes for each reason listed above. Follow them in order from simple to more advanced. Back up important data before making major changes.
1. Windows Search service stopped or disabled
Why it causes the problem:
Windows Search relies on the Windows Search service (WSearch). If this service is stopped or disabled, Start menu search and indexed file searches won’t work.
Step-by-step fix:
- Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
- In the Services list, find Windows Search.
- Double-click Windows Search and set Startup type to Automatic (Delayed Start).
- Click Start (if service is stopped) and then OK.
- Restart the PC if prompted.
Notes:
- If the service fails to start, check the Event Viewer for errors (open Event Viewer → Windows Logs > Application/System).
2. SearchUI / Cortana process crashed
Why it causes the problem:
The Start menu search in many Windows 10 builds is handled by a process (SearchUI.exe or SearchApp.exe). If it crashes, the search box will not respond.
Step-by-step fix:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Under Processes, find Search or SearchUI.exe / Cortana.
- Select it and click End task.
- Wait a few seconds; Windows should restart the search process automatically. If not, sign out and sign in again or reboot.
- If the process immediately crashes again, move to the rebuild or system file fixes below.
Tip:
- You can also restart Windows Explorer in Task Manager: find Windows Explorer → Restart.
3. Corrupted search index
Why it causes the problem:
If the index database is corrupted, searches return incomplete results or none at all.
Step-by-step fix:
- Open Control Panel (press Windows key, type Control Panel).
- Choose Indexing Options.
- Click Advanced (you may be asked to provide admin permission).
- Under Troubleshooting, click Rebuild.
- Click OK and allow time for the index to rebuild (may take minutes to hours depending on data size).
Notes:
- While rebuilding, searches for non-indexed locations will be slower or incomplete.
4. Indexer is paused or overloaded
Why it causes the problem:
The indexer can pause or throttle itself when the system is busy, or it can be stuck processing many files.
Step-by-step fix:
- Open Indexing Options (Control Panel).
- Verify the indexing status at the top (e.g., “Indexing complete” or “Indexing 10,000 items”).
- If indexing isn’t progressing, click Advanced > Rebuild.
- Exclude large folders (like backups or VM images) by clicking Modify and unchecking those locations.
- If CPU/disk is high, pause large background tasks (file copies, backups) and let indexing run.
Tip:
- You can temporarily disable indexing of certain file types or folders if performance is an issue.
5. Important folders not indexed
Why it causes the problem:
Search won’t return files stored in folders that are excluded from the index.
Step-by-step fix:
- Open Control Panel > Indexing Options.
- Click Modify.
- In the list, check the folders you want indexed (Documents, Desktop, your user folder).
- Click OK and allow the indexer to pick up new locations.
Notes:
- If you need file contents searched, make sure file types are included in Advanced > File Types and “Index Properties and File Contents” is selected.
6. Recent Windows update broke search
Why it causes the problem:
Occasionally, a Windows update introduces a bug that affects search functionality.
Step-by-step fix:
- Run the automated troubleshooter: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Search and Indexing and follow prompts.
- If the troubleshooter doesn’t help, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history to identify recently installed updates.
- To uninstall a suspicious update: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates, select the update, and uninstall.
- Pause updates or wait for Microsoft to release a fix.
Tip:
- Check Microsoft support forums and the Windows release health dashboard for known issues.
7. Corrupted system files
Why it causes the problem:
Search components depend on system files; corruption can break search.
Step-by-step fix:
- Open Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
- Run: SFC /scannow
- Wait for SFC to finish. If it reports issues it cannot repair, run:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- After DISM completes, run SFC /scannow again.
- Reboot and test search.
Notes:
- These commands repair Windows system components and often fix search problems.
8. Group Policy or registry disables search
Why it causes the problem:
Administrators can disable search features via Group Policy or registry settings. This is common in managed environments or after changes.
Step-by-step fix:
- If you have Pro/Enterprise: press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
- Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search.
- Check settings like Allow Cortana, Don’t search the web, or Don’t search the web or display web results in Search and set them to Not Configured or as desired.
- For registry check (if no Group Policy): open regedit and browse to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search - Delete or modify values like DisableWebSearch, AllowCortana, or ConnectedSearchUseWeb if they are blocking search (only if you understand registry edits). Reboot.
Warning:
- Editing Group Policy and the registry can affect system behavior — create a restore point before changes.
9. Permissions issue on index data folder
Why it causes the problem:
If the search index folder permissions are wrong, the indexer can’t write or read the index files.
Step-by-step fix:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Search\Data (paste in the address bar).
- Right-click the Data folder → Properties → Security tab → Advanced.
- Ensure SYSTEM, LOCAL SERVICE, and your user account have Full control or at least Read/Write permissions.
- If permissions are damaged, click Change permissions and fix them (apply to subfolders).
- After fixing permissions, rebuild the index (see step 3).
Tip:
- Sometimes it helps to rename the Data\Applications\Windows folder (with the service stopped), then restart the service so Windows recreates the index folder.
10. Third-party antivirus or firewall interfering
Why it causes the problem:
Some security software blocks or interferes with the search indexer or access to files, preventing results.
Step-by-step fix:
- Temporarily disable real-time protection in your antivirus (or Windows Defender: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Real-time protection).
- Try search again. If it works, add these exclusions:
- Exclude processes: SearchIndexer.exe, SearchProtocolHost.exe, SearchFilterHost.exe.
- Exclude folder: %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Search\Data.
- Re-enable protection after testing.
Warning:
- Only temporarily disable AV; if your third-party AV is the cause, add exclusions or contact vendor support.
11. File Explorer search settings misconfigured
Why it causes the problem:
File Explorer search settings control whether the index is used and whether file contents are included.
Step-by-step fix:
- Open File Explorer, click View > Options (or File > Change folder and search options).
- Go to the Search tab.
- If you need to search file contents, check Always search file names and contents (or, if present, uncheck options that disable indexing).
- Click Restore Defaults, then OK.
- Test search again.
Notes:
- Exact options vary by Windows 10 build; restoring defaults is a safe step.
12. Search app / Cortana needs reset or reinstall
Why it causes the problem:
The Search/Cortana app package can become corrupted.
Step-by-step fix:
Reset:
- Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
- Search for Cortana or Search in the list.
- Click it, choose Advanced options, then click Reset.
Reinstall or re-register (PowerShell):
- Open Start, type PowerShell, right-click Windows PowerShell, and select Run as administrator.
- Run:
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”} - Reboot.
Warning:
- Re-registering app packages can take a few minutes and may require admin rights.
13. Low disk space or high CPU/IO
Why it causes the problem:
Insufficient disk space or heavy disk I/O prevents the indexer from building or search from responding.
Step-by-step fix:
- Check free disk space on C: (open This PC in File Explorer).
- Free space by removing temp files: Settings > System > Storage > Free up space now or use Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr).
- Pause or stop heavy tasks (large file copies, disk-intensive apps) and let indexing run.
- If your disk is failing or near full, consider replacing or expanding storage.
Tip:
- An SSD significantly improves search/index performance.
Additional section: When to use System Restore or Reset
When you’ve tried the above and search still fails, consider restoring the system to a known good point or using a repair install.
System Restore:
- Press Windows key, type Create a restore point, and open it.
- Click System Restore, choose a restore point before the problem started, and follow the wizard.
Repair install (In-place upgrade):
- Download the latest Windows 10 ISO using the Media Creation Tool.
- Run Setup.exe from the ISO and choose Upgrade this PC now — this keeps your files and apps while reinstalling Windows system components.
Caution:
- Back up data before major operations. System Restore may not be available if it was disabled.
FAQ
Q: How can I prevent Windows Search problems in future?
A: Keep Windows updated, avoid disabling core services, maintain adequate disk space, and exclude indexer files from aggressive third-party antivirus scans.
Q: Is there an automated troubleshooter for search?
A: Yes — Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Search and Indexing helps diagnose common issues.
Q: Can I disable indexing to fix a slow search?
A: You can disable the Windows Search service, but then searches become slow because Windows will perform full scans; rebuilding and limiting indexed locations is a better approach.
Q: Does resetting my user profile fix search issues?
A: It can if the problem is profile-corrupted. Try a new user account to test; if search works there, consider migrating to a new profile.
Q: Are there logs or errors I can check?
A: Yes — use Event Viewer (look under Application and System) and the Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > Search for detailed errors.
Conclusion
Most search failures are caused by the Windows Search service, a corrupted index, crashed SearchUI/Cortana, policy/permission issues, or interference from updates and third-party software. Start by checking the service, running the Search and Indexing troubleshooter, rebuilding the index, and running SFC/DISM; these steps fix the majority of issues with Windows Search doesn’t work in Windows 10.
