What happened to the days when the Windows Start menu was just there? It was simple, it was sweet, and it wasn’t made up of a billion tiny processes and Cortanas and tiles that probably contributed to it not working. The Start menu made a welcome comeback in Windows 10, but it’s still prone to imploding every now and then, particularly the Search button which brings all kinds of Cortana-related issues.
So if your Cortana’s a goner and your Search has lurched to a halt, check out these fixes below.
1. Use the System File Checker
Given that this is one of the simplest things you can do to try and repair your Start menu search, we recommend trying it first. Open an elevated Command Prompt (right-click Command Prompt then ‘Run as administrator), then type the following command:
This will scan your system files for any errors and corruptions, and automatically attempt to fix them. Give that the Start menu search is a system process, any errors in it should be detected by using the SFC utility.
In addition, one of our readers in the comments suggested that running the SFC utility in Windows 10 Safe Mode solved the problem for them, so that’s worth a shot if doing it in regular Windows 10 fails. Thanks Dave morrison!
2. Disable/Restart Third-Party Antivirus, Enable Windows Firewall
To be clear, we’re not suggesting here that you should disable and completely remove all third-party antivirus software from your device, but based on feedback here and across the Internet, certain programs cause Windows Search to malfunction. Avast is one culprit, so try uninstalling that if you have it, then find an alternative if need be (Windows Defender itself has become a viable, secure option in recent years).
Free desktop icons windows 7. Or (credit to our reader Mayur N.), you could just try disabling your Avast shields temporarily, which should get the Start menu search back. In the case of Avast at least, once you switch the shields back on, the Start menu search may continue working as it should.
On the other hand, enabling Windows Firewall has also helped some users. It seems that Search and indexing is oddly sensitive to your security settings, so tinkering around with them by enabling and disabling things may yield results.
3. Move or Rebuild Swapfile.sys
The Pagefile and Swapfile are two inextricably linked and important functions of Windows 10. The pagefile eases the weight off your PC RAM by allocating a certain amount of hard drive space to functioning as RAM should you run low on memory. The swapfile performs the same function, but specifically for Modern Windows apps, so it’s more targeted in its scope.
Seeing as Cortana is a Modern Windows app, you can try rebuilding the Swapfile to kickstart it – and your Start menu search – back into action. This will also involve rebuilding the Pagefile, as the Swapfile is directly dependent on the Pagefile.
If you want to try this, read our guide on how to move and modify your Pagefile (and therefore Swapfile). While we don’t recommend outright disabling the Pagefile, you can move it to another drive to effectively ‘restart’ it. Or, if you want it on the original drive, you can disable it, reboot your PC, then re-enable it after you’ve rebooted.
If your Start menu search still isn’t working after this, the next tip is a good one to follow up with…
4. Re-register Cortana
So we’ve established that Cortana is a likely culprit for the Start menu search not working. If restarting the process fails, then you can try re-registering the Cortana app.
To start, open the Windows File Explorer and navigate to the following location:
Right-click “powershell.exe,” and then click “Run as administrator.”
After opening the PowerShell, copy the below code snippet and execute it.
Once you are done executing the command, close the PowerShell, restart your system, and you should have the Start Menu Search back in top form!
5. Run Windows Troubleshooter
The simplest solution is to use the tools built into Windows to help you out. Granted, this is far from a 100% solution, but it’s a quick one so it’s worth a shot.
1. Navigate to the Control Panel (click Start, then scroll down the the Windows System folder and you’ll find it there).
2. Change the view to “Large icons” or “Small icons” if it’s not that already, then click “Troubleshooting -> System and Security -> Search and Indexing”.
3. Click “Next” in the troubleshooter, then check the box that applies to your issue (most likely “Files don’t appear in search results”, though if your Windows Search is working, albeit slowly, you should tick the third box down).
4. Finally, click Next to run the scan, which will automatically attempt to fix any problems.
6. Restart Windows Explorer
Grizzly tank red alert 2. It goes without saying that the first thing you should try is rebooting your PC, but if that fails, then the slightly more niche solution is to restart the Windows Explorer process. This is responsible for managing files on your PC as well as the smooth functioning of the Start menu.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to jump straight into Task Manager, click “More details” in the bottom-left corner if that hasn’t been selected already, then scroll down to Windows Explorer, right-click it, and hit “Restart.” Have a moment of panic as it looks for a second like your computer might crash, then breathe a sigh of relief as you see that it’s still working, and your Start menu Search button is hopefully fixed!
7. Check Windows Search Service
Another reason why your Start menu search may not be working is because the Windows Search service is not running. Windows Search service is a system service and runs automatically on the system startup.
Check whether the service is running or not by hitting Win + R, typing
services.msc , then scrolling down to find it. If it says “Running” in the Status column, it’s running (obviously). If not, you’ll have to start it manually.
Right-click “Windows Search” and then click “Properties.”
In the Properties window click on the “Start” button to start the service. Also, make sure that the Startup type is set to “Automatic” or “Automatic (Delayed Start).” This ensures that the service will automatically start at every system startup. Once you are done with the changes, click ‘OK.’
Once the service has been started, this is what it looks like in your Services window. For me, this method worked perfectly. Watch shop sisters oregon.
8. Restart Cortana Process
As we now know all too well, Cortana can be responsible for a misbehaving start menu search. If that is the case, restarting the Cortana process will solve the problem.
To do that, right-click the taskbar and then click “Task Manager.”
Once the task manager has been opened, find the Cortana process under the Processes tab, and click on the “End task” button.
The above action will restart the Cortana process, and you might as well solve the start menu search problem.
Is the Start Menu giving you trouble beyond the Search button? Check out our more general guide on how to fix a broken Start menu in Windows 10.
9. Or Try “Everything” as a Workaround
If these fixes still haven’t solved your problem, then it may be time for a workaround. Void Tools has released an excellent and very lightweight tool called “Everything” which indexes and searches all the files on your computer instantly. It’s easy to use and arguably faster than the built-in Windows option.
This article was first published in October 2015 and was updated in April 2019.
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Sep. 07, 2018 / Updated by Bessie Shaw to Windows 10
One of the popular features of the latest Windows OS, Windows 10 and its updates like Windows 10 Creators Update, is that users can search anything via the search bar beside the start menu, like what we often do on Windows 8 or 7. But recently, some Windows users come across the Windows 10 start menu search not working issue. The Windows 10 Cortana rejects to show the results and you can’t search the app via the Windows 10 search bar.
If your Windows 10 desktop or laptop runs into such Windows 10 search not working problem, don’t be so worried about it. This post will help to put your Windows search on the right path.
Top 5 Ways to Fix Windows 10 Start Menu Search Not Working Problem
Here we’ve had top 5 solutions for you to make your search bar on Windows 10 Start menu available again. You can try the methods one by one until you get the search results.
Way 1. Configure the UAC and Fix the Windows 10 Start Menu Search Not Working Issue
You can modify the User Account Control in the Local Group Policy and fix the Windows 10 Search bar not working or the Windows 10 Start menu not working problem.
1. Use the Windows shortcut keysWin + R to launch the Run.
2. Type into gpedit.msc.
3. Hit the Enter.
4. Expand the Windows Settings under the Computer Configuration item.
5. Expand the Security Settings.
6. Expand the Local Policies.
7. Highlight the Security Options.
8. On the right pane, scroll down and double-click the User Account Control: Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator account.
9. Choose the Enabled option.
10. Click the Apply and the OK.
Note: If it has been the Enabled, you can choose the Disabled option and click the Apply. Then re-enable it.
Way 2. Make the Windows 10 Search Service Available
If the method one fails to make the search bar work, you may need to check the Windows Search service:
1. Launch the Run.
2. Type into services.msc.
3. Press the Enter.
4. On the right pane, scroll down and double-click the Windows Search service.
5. If the service is stopped, then click the Start button.
6. Select the Automatic from the drop-down menu of the Startup type.
7. Click the Apply and the OK.
Now try the searching from the Start menu of Windows 10 to see if the “Windows 10 Start menu Search not working” problem still persists.
Way 3. Use the Windows PowerShell to Troubleshoot the Windows Search Bar Problem
The Windows 10 Search bar also appears with the Cortana when you use the Windows shortcut keys Win + S. If the Cortana runs into problems, you may not do the search from the Windows 10 search bar. So you can re-register the Cortana via the Windows PowerShell and fix the Windows 10 Search bar not working problem.
1. Click the Start menu.
2. Go to the W category.
3. Expand the Windows PowerShell folder.
4. Right-click the Windows PowerShell for More.
5. Select the Run as Administrator.
6. Paste the command below into the box:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register '$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml'}
7. When the Windows PowerShell finishes its work, you can restart the computer and try the Windows 10 Search bar again.
Way 4. Restart the Processes to Solve the Windows 10 Search Not Working IssueWindows 10 Search White Box
You can try to end the Cortana and the Windows Explorer and then restart the processes. This can also fix the Windows 10 Search not working problem.
1. Right-click the blank area of the taskbar.
2. Select the Task Manager.
3. Right-click the Cortana/Windows Explorer on the list.
4. Select the End task or Restart.
Wait for a while and try doing the search from the Windows 10 Search bar. If this still fails to fix the problem, you may need to restore the system to the last state that the Windows Search is working properly. Go on the reading below.
Windows 10 Search Bar Is White House
See Also:Top 4 Fixes for Windows 10 Taskbar Not Working
Way 5. Restore the Windows System
You may want to check out Driver Talent, a useful utility for system restore and Windows 10 driver backup. It’s important to backup all the drivers before the system changes and create a new system restore point in case other computer issues occur. The utility is available with the Download button below.
Here’s how to restore the system and fix the Windows 10 Start menu Search not working problem:
1. Choose one restore point you've made and click the Restore button.
Search Bar Settings Windows 10
2. Read the suggestion and click Restore.
3. Restart your Windows 10 computer.
Note: Don’t forget to backup the Windows drivers before the system restore.
After the system restore your Windows Search bar can work properly as before. Now try to type something into the search bar and perform a search.
Hope this post can help you make your Windows 10 Search bar available again. If you have any other Windows 10 Start menu search not working issues you can check for solutions in our Windows 10 Issues and Fix section, drop a line in the comment section below, or go to the OSToto official forum.
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