Solved: Windows 10 start menu search not working after update

A number of users report Start Menu search not working after the Windows 10 version 22H2 update. While attempting to search for items in the Windows 10 start menu, no results are shown. This happens whether you’re searching for files, programs, or Windows 10 apps. There can be a number of reasons for this issue to happen. Some common reasons that can cause Windows search problems are:

• System files on the computer may be corrupt or mismatched with other files.
• There could be a possibility of a virus or malware infection.
• Some applications or services running on the computer might have stopped Windows Explorer to work.
• This issue might have occurred due to an outdated or corrupted video driver.

If you are also struggling with this annoying problem, here 5 effective solutions to fix Windows 10 search problems.

Start menu search is not working

Restarting Windows Explorer might clear whatever minor bug it was encountering and fix the Windows 10 Search Function on your computer.

• Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager.
• Scroll down and locate Windows Explorer.
• Right-click on Windows Explorer and then click on the Restart option
• This will refresh and restart the Windows Explorer App on your Computer.
• After this, try to use the search bar on your computer and see if it has started working.

Update Windows 10

Also, make sure Windows has the latest updates installed. To check and install the latest Windows updates.

• Press Windows + R, type ms-settings, and ok to open settings.
• Click Update & security, then Windows Update on left.
• No,w click the Check for updates button.
• Let Windows check and install the latest Windows updates for you.
• Restart Windows and check Windows search problem is resolved.

Check Windows Search Service Running

If the Windows Search service is not started, Disabled or not responding, you may encounter a problem with Windows Search. We recommend check that the Windows service is running, if not, then start or restart the Service.

• Press Windows+R, type services.msc and press enter key.
• Scroll down and look for a service named Windows Search.
• Check the Service is running. If yes, then right-click and select restart.
• If it’s stopped, simply Double-click on it, to open its properties.
• Here make sure the startup type is set to Automatic and click on Start below Service Status.
• Click ok, apply to make save changes.
• Now, try to search for something from the Windows Start Menu search.

Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter

Run the built-in Search and Indexing troubleshooter, which automatically detects and fixes the problems prevent Windows Search from working properly.

1. Press Windows + I to open settings,
2. Click Update & security, then troubleshoot,
3. Now on the right-hand side look for Search and Indexing
4. Select and run the troubleshooter.

Restart Windows after completing the troubleshoot process and check the Windows search problem is fixed.

Rebuild the Windows Search Indexer

Rebuilding the Search Indexer may help in repairing the built-in search tool in Windows 10.

• Press Windows + R, type control panel and ok.
• Search for and select Indexing Options.
• Click on the Advanced button.
• Click Rebuild under the Troubleshooting section and click OK.

The rebuilding will take some time, and once it is done, you can start searching for the files you need, and the Search should work properly.

Run DISM and Sfc Utility

Still having the issue, Windows Start Menu search not working? Running DISM and SFC scan can help you repair the corrupted files in your system.

Open an Administrator command window by

• Press Ctrl + Shift + ESC to open Task Manager,
• Click File, select Run New Task type CMD and ok
• Make sure you have a check mark beside Create this task with administrative privileges.

Type the following commands in the CMD Prompt:

• dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
•  sfc /scannow

Restart Windows after 100% complete the scanning process. Check start menu search is working properly.

Also re-register Cortana following the steps below, which most probably fix the problem for you.

• Open the Windows File Explorer and navigate to the following location:
• C:Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0
• Right-click “powershell.exe,” and then click “Run as administrator.”
• copy and paste the command below and press Enter to execute the same.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like “*SystemApps*”} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

• Restart Windows and check if the problem is resolved.

Create A New User Account

Also, some of the Windows users report that after creating a new User Account and logging in with on newly created user account help. You can simply create a user account by following below.

Simply Open the Command Prompt as administrator and type the command below.

net user Username password / add

Note: Replace username with the newly create user account and replace password set password for the user account.

That’s All. Now log off from the current user account and login with the newly created user account and check the start menu search is working perfectly.

If yes then there is a problem with the old user account simply transfer the old user account data to the new user account and continue with the newly created user account.

Did these solutions help to fix Windows 10 start menu search problems? Let us know on the comments below, also read:

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