Is the Windows 11/10 Search feature not working in 2024? Fix it now!

Translating English to Chinese refers to the process of converting English text into Chinese. If you have specific English content that needs translation, please feel free to provide it, and I'll do my best to help you with the translation.

Issue: The Search bar in Windows 11/10 is not working, continually searching but never finding anything.

"Hey everyone, I'm running on Windows 10 64-bit, but since this morning, I can't search for anything. The search bar just keeps loading and never displays any results. This shouldn't be happening since I run Windows on an SSD. Why isn't my Windows 10 search function working?" - A user question from answers.microsoft.com

The Windows 10 Search Bar lets you type and search for files on your PC or the internet, and it's one of the most useful features of the OS. However, high usage comes with frequent issues. Many users report that the Search Bar isn't working, and they can't type or search in the Windows 10 Search Bar on their taskbar.

If you're also dealing with the Windows 11/10 search not working issue, the good news is that you can try several solutions to fix the problem and get the search feature back on track in Windows 10.

You may also like:

Why Isn't the Search Bar Working in Windows 11/10?

Why isn't search working on my Windows 10? There can be several reasons why Windows 10 search isn't working. Here are some common causes.

• The search function fails to launch on Windows 10
• Bugs or other issues with simple software on Windows 10
• The search process itself is interrupted
• Error with the search indexing
• Damaged system files in Windows 10
• Problems with system updates

To address the issue of Search not working on Windows 10, we've provided some effective solutions below. You can try them sequentially until the search bar returns to normal.

1. Check if the Windows 11/10 Search Service is Running

The first thing you can do is check if the Search service is running. To do so, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press ⊞ Win+R to open the "Run" window. Type services.msc and press ↵ Enter.

Step 2: Right-click the “Windows Search” service and select “Properties.”

Step 3: Under Status, make sure that the Startup option is enabled. If it isn't, click Start > OK to turn on the Windows Search service.

2. Restart the Windows 11/10 Search Function

You can try ending and restarting the SearchUI process to fix the issue with Windows 10 search not working. Please note that after you end the search task, it will automatically restart the next time you perform a search.

Step 1: Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, and then choose Task Manager.

Step 2: In the Task Manager window, select the "Details" tab.

Step 3: Scroll down the “Name” column, right-click on “SearchUI.exe,” and select “End task.”

Step 4. If a pop-up appears, confirm that you want to end SearchUI.exe.

If that doesn't work, try restarting your computer.

3. Restart your Windows 11/10 computer

If the search bar is unresponsive due to issues with memory and disk caches, simply restarting your computer might be helpful. Often, a restart can work wonders for a computer that's acting up.

4. Rebuild Windows 11/10 Search Index

If the search or device restart didn't help, we recommend that you rebuild the search index. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Right-click the Start button and select Control Panel.

Step 2. In the Control Panel items, choose Indexing Options.

Choose the "Indexing Options"

3. Click “Advanced,” then select “Rebuild.” Your system will begin the process of deleting and rebuilding your search index.

5. Fix Windows 11/10 Search Not Working with the Troubleshooter

If rebuilding the index doesn't fix search in Windows 10, you can use the built-in troubleshooter to diagnose and fix common issues.

Step 1: Click the "Start" button, select "Settings," and then click "Update & Security."

Step 2: In the left pane, select Troubleshoot. Scroll down and under Search and Indexing, click Run troubleshooter.

Step 3: The Troubleshooter will ask you to select the problem you're experiencing. Choose your issue, and then click “Next” to scan for problems.

Step 4: Run as administrator to fix the problem.

6. Repair Windows 11/10 Search Not Working with SFC and DISM Tools

Corrupted or virus-infected system files on Windows 10 could be the reason behind the Search function not working correctly. To address this issue, you can use the built-in SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tools to scan and repair damaged system files.

How to Run a System File Checker

Step 1: Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin).

Step 2: Type sfc /scannow, and then press the Enter key to run a full system scan.

How to Run the DISM Tool

If the SFC scan is unable to fix corrupted Windows system files, proceed to use the DISM tool.

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box, then type cmd to open the Command Prompt.

Step 2: Type the following command and press Enter.

The command Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth is a tool used to fix the System File Checker (SFC) in the Windows operating system. In Chinese, it says, "使用DISM在线修复并恢复系统映像健康的命令". Typically, you'd use this command to fix broken or missing system files within the system image, ensuring the system runs smoothly and stably.

Step 3. Wait for the process to complete, then restart your computer and check if the search bar is working properly.

Check for and install Windows updates

Certain Windows updates might cause issues with Windows 10 search. Microsoft then releases more updates to fix the search problems that occurred in Windows 10. So, update Windows to see if it resolves the issue where Windows 10 search isn't working.

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open the "Settings" app.

Step 2: Click on “Update & Security,” and then under “Windows Update,” select “Check for updates.”

Check for Windows updates

If there are any new updates available, click Install now, and follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10.

8. Upgrade the system disk from HDD to SSD

The last solution to fix the Windows 10 search not working issue is to upgrade your system disk from HDD to SSD. In this way, Windows 10 will run more smoothly and you will encounter fewer problems. How to upgrade from HDD to SSD without downloading Windows 10 again? You can directly migrate OS from HDD to SSD with advanced Windows 10 disk management tools.

As one of the most popular disk partition tools worldwide, tools Partition Master allows you to move Windows 10 and boot partition from one hard drive to another with simple clicks. Then, you can finish in-place upgrade easily and safely.

Please download this partition manager and follow the steps below to migrate your operating system to an SSD without losing data.

Note: If there is insufficient unallocated space on the target disk, migrating the operating system to an SSD or HDD will delete existing partitions and data on the target disk. Back up any important data to an external hard drive beforehand if necessary.

Step 1. From the left-hand menu, choose "Clone." Select "Migrate the operating system," and click "Next" to proceed.

Step 2. Select the target disk that you wish to clone to. Click “Next”.

Step 3. Read the warning message and click “OK”. All data and partitions on the target disk will be erased. Make sure you have backed up your important data in advance. If not, do it now.

Step 4. Preview the layout of the target disk. You can also click the Layout option to customize the layout of the target disk as needed. Then click Start to begin migrating the operating system to the new disk.

Step 5: When you see the confirmation message asking if you want to boot from the cloned disk, check the option to adjust the boot order from the cloned disk, then click the corresponding button as needed.

• Restart Now: Restarts the computer immediately and boots the operating system from the new disk.
• Finish: Makes the change at a later time.

Confirm cloning the system to the new hard drive

Bottom line

Above are effective solutions to fix the Windows 10 search not working issue. It can be really frustrating when Windows Search fails to respond or doesn't yield the expected results. But don't worry – try out any of the fixes above.

You can try restarting the search service, rebuilding the search index, fixing corrupted system files, and checking for Windows 10 updates. Hopefully, this tutorial was helpful.