How to fix broken search in Windows 10: simple steps without losing data

How to fix search not working in windows 10

Search in Windows 10 operating system is one of the most important tools that allows users to quickly find the files, programs and settings they need. However, sometimes search can stop working, causing frustration and inconvenience. But there’s no need to panic - there are simple steps that can help you fix the problem without losing any data.

Table Of Contents

The first step in solving the problem with the not working search in Windows 10 is to restart the Windows Search service. To do this, press the Win + R key combination, type “services.msc” and press Enter. In the services window that opens, find “Windows Search”, right-click and select “Restart”. This may take some time, but once this operation is done, the search should start working again.

If restarting the service didn’t help, the next step you can try is to clear the Windows Search cache. To do this, open the Settings window (you can find it in the Start menu or press the Win + I keyboard shortcut), select System, and then Storage. Under “Clear Space,” look for “Clear Now” next to “Search Watchlist.” Once the cleanup process is complete, restart your computer and see if the search now works.

If the search problem persists, you can try running a command line scan of your system files. To do this, open a command prompt as an administrator (press the Win + X key combination and select “Command Prompt (Administrator)”). At the command prompt, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter. The scanning process may take some time, after which the system will check the files and fix any errors that may cause search problems.

Hopefully, the above steps will help you fix Windows 10 search not working and get it back to a fully functional state. If the problem still persists, it is recommended that you contact Microsoft Support for further assistance and resolution.

How to fix search not working in Windows 10

Windows 10 search not working can be a very frustrating problem that prevents you from using the operating system effectively. You may have encountered a situation where when you click on the search button, nothing happens or the search is very slow. In this article, we will go through a few simple steps that will help you fix a search that is not working and get it back to normal.

Step 1: Restart the Search Service

Restarting the search service can help you get your search working again in Windows 10. To do so, follow these steps:

Press the key combination Win + R to open the Run window.
Type services.msc and press the Enter key to open the list of services.
In the list of services, locate the Windows Search service.
Right-click on the Windows Search service and select Restart.

Step 2: Clear the search cache

Clearing the search cache can help troubleshoot issues with search not working in Windows 10. To do so, follow these steps:

Press the key combination Win + R to open the Run window.
Type %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState and press Enter to open the folder.
Find the files with the extension .bak and delete them.
Restart your computer and check if the search now works.

Step 3: Re-create the search index

Re-creating the search index can help you fix the issue of search not working in Windows 10. To do so, follow these steps:

Open “Control Panel” and go to “Indexing Options”.
Click on the “Change” button and make sure you are in the “All Enabled” tab.
Click on “Options” and select the desired folders you want to include in the index.
Click on the “OK” button and wait for the index to be recreated.

Step 4: Update your operating system

Updating your operating system can help fix the issue of not working search in Windows 10. To do so, follow these steps:

Open Settings and go to Update and Security.
Click on “Check for updates” and wait for the search for updates to finish.
If updates are available, install them on your computer.
Restart your computer and check if the search is now working.

These simple steps will help you fix Windows 10 search not working and get it back to normal. If the problem persists, it is recommended that you seek help from a professional or contact Microsoft support.

Simple steps without data loss

If Windows 10 search has stopped working, follow these simple steps to safely resolve the problem without losing your data.

Restart your computer. This may allow the operating system to restore normal search functionality. Often, a simple reboot can solve many problems, including a non-functioning search.
Perform a disk error check. To do this, open a command prompt (press Win + X and select “Command Prompt (Administrator)”) and type the command chkdsk C: /f (where C is the letter of the disk on which the operating system is installed).
Check the integrity of the system files. Run Command Prompt (as administrator), enter the command sfc /scannow and wait for the scan to complete and errors to be corrected.
Check for viruses and malware. Install a reliable antivirus and run a full system scan.
Update your operating system to the latest version. Check for available updates under “Update and Security” in Windows settings.
Check the search settings. Make sure the search settings are properly configured and do not exclude files and folders that you need.
Try using alternative search methods. Instead of Windows 10’s built-in search, you can use Explorer search or third-party programs to search for files and folders.

If none of these steps help you solve the problem with the search not working, you may need to contact a professional or reinstall your operating system with your data intact. Either way, be sure to back up your files regularly so that you can restore your data in the event of a failure.

Check for updates

Windows 10 search not working can be caused by a lack of necessary operating system updates. Checking for updates and installing them can help get your search working again.

Read Also: How To Fix PS4 Overheating When Playing Call Of Duty Warzone - Easy Solutions

Right-click the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen.
From the context menu, select Settings.
In the “Settings” window that opens, select the “Update and Security” section.
In the left pane, select “Windows Update”.
Click the “Check for updates” button.

Windows will start searching for available updates and display a list of them. If any updates are available, install them by following the on-screen instructions.

After installing the updates, restart your computer and check if Windows 10 search works. If the problem of search not working remains, proceed to the next step in solving the problem.

Install the latest Windows 10 updates

If you are having trouble with Windows 10 search, one of the first steps you should take is to install the latest operating system updates. Updates contain bug fixes and improvements that can solve the problem with search not working.

To install the latest Windows 10 updates, follow these steps:

Read Also: The 15 best offline cricket games for Android phones: ranking 2021

Open the Start menu and select Settings.
In the Settings window, select Update and Security.
In the left pane, select “Windows Update.”
Click the “Check for updates” button.
If any updates are available, install them by following the on-screen instructions.
After installing the updates, restart your computer.

After restarting, check to see if Windows 10 search works. If the problem persists, go to the next step in the solution list.

Restart the Windows Search service

If Windows 10 search is not working, one way to solve the problem may be to restart the Windows Search service. This service is responsible for performing search operations in the operating system.

To restart the Windows Search service, you need to follow these steps:

Press the Win + R key combination to open the Run window.
Type the command “services.msc” (without quotes) in the Run box and press Enter. The “Services” window will open.
Find the “Windows Search” service in the list and right-click on it.
In the context menu that appears, select Restart.

After following these steps, the Windows Search service will be restarted, which may help to restore the search functionality in Windows 10. If the problem persists after restarting the service, you can also try restarting your computer.

If even after restarting the Windows Search service, the search issue is still not fixed, you may need to perform a more in-depth diagnostic and troubleshooting of the problem. To do this, you can contact technical support specialists or look for more information in the official Microsoft documentation.

FAQ:

Why did Windows 10 search stop working?

There may be various reasons for this. Some of them may include corruption of the search index, errors in system files, or problems with Windows updates.

What simple steps can I take to fix Windows 10 search not working?

There are some simple steps you can try to fix a search not working in Windows 10. You can restart your computer, check for system updates, perform file indexing, run the search service, and check the integrity of your system files.

What should I do if all the simple steps failed to fix Windows 10 search not working?

If all the simple steps didn’t work, you can try performing complex steps like restoring Windows Store, disabling unnecessary services, or running commands at the command line to check and fix errors.

Do I need to worry about possible data loss when fixing Windows 10 search?

In most cases, fixing Windows 10 search should not cause data loss. However, before performing complex steps, it is recommended that you back up your important files to prevent data loss in case of an unexpected problem.

Are there specialized programs that can help fix Windows 10 search not working?

Yes, there are specialized programs that can help to get search working again in Windows 10. Some of them include Winaero Tweaker, Windows Search Troubleshooter, and Tweaking.com Windows Repair.

Why did my Windows 10 search stop working?

There are several possible reasons why your Windows 10 search may stop working. One of the most common problems is a malfunction with the Windows search service. Another reason could be corrupted system files or a problem with installed applications. Also, search problems can occur due to conflicts with antivirus software or improperly configured Windows settings.

How do I fix search problems in Windows 10 without losing data?

If you are experiencing search problems in Windows 10, there are a few simple steps you can take to try to fix the situation without losing data. First, try restarting the Windows Search service. To do this, open Task Manager, find the SearchIndexer.exe process and right-click and select Restart. If that doesn’t help, try running the “sfc /scannow” command to check the integrity of your system files. If that doesn’t solve the problem either, you can try performing a Windows update or performing a Windows reset while keeping your personal files intact.