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How to fix File Explorer search not working in Windows 10?

Using the text box provided in the File Explorer application (in Windows 10), you can search for items stored on your disk. You can similarly search for files stored in a specific location (regardless of the directory involved). It seems Microsoft changed the behavior of the search function in the File Explorer application in a recent Windows update.

What if File Explorer search is not finding files in Windows 10?

First, you have to determine whether the search function failure on your computer is a feature or bug.

If the search function failure in your case is a feature, then it means the changes that Microsoft made to the function have led you to believe that the function is not working (even when the function is working exactly as it is supposed to).

Normally, once you start typing a query, Windows brings up some options in the drop-down menu. The search results appear almost instantly. However, since the changes were made, you might now have to type the query (in full) and then hit the Enter button (on your keyboard) before your system starts bringing up the relevant search results.

Well, you are now unlikely to get search suggestions in the drop-down menu area. It is easy to see that the improved Windows Search functions power the new search experience. Well, you might have some complaints. For one, a good number of users reported that Windows search is now freezing or working slowly.

If the search function failure in your case is a bug – if Windows search does not work at all (no matter what you do) – then you have to execute some operations to fix the problem. When the search function is malfunctioning or broken, then Windows will report that no items match your search – even when you try to find an item that exists on your computer.

Fortunately, in this guide, we intend to show you how to fix Windows 10 File Explorer search not working properly. Let’s go.

How to resolve File Explorer search not working in Windows 10

For efficiency’s sake, you may want to begin with the first fix on the list and continue through the rest of the solutions in that order (work your way through the procedures until the problem in your case gets resolved).

  1. Rebuild the Windows search index:

The vast majority of issues affecting the search function in Windows have something to do with the search index. The search index corresponds to the body of structured data, which Windows goes through when it has to find results for a specific query. The search index plays an important role in search operations. When the search index is down, search operations suffer or fail to reach completion.

To fix issues with the search index, you have to instruct Windows to rebuild it. These are the steps you must go through to perform the job here:

  • Open the Run app by pressing (and holding down) the Windows logo button on your computer and then tapping the letter R key.
  • Once the small Run window comes up, you have to fill the text box on it with this code: exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL srchadmin.dll
  • Now, to run the code, you have to click on the OK button on the Run application window (or tap the Enter button on your device’s keyboard for the same outcome).

The Indexing Options window will come up now.

  • Click on the Advanced button.

The Advanced Options window will come up.

  • Click on the File Types tab (to go there).
  • Click on the radio button for Index Properties and File Contents (to select this parameter).
  • Click on the OK button on the Advanced Options window.
  • Here, you must click on the OK button on the Rebuild Index confirmation prompt.

Windows will initiate rebuilding operations for the file index on your computer. Be patient while you pay attention to the proceedings. The process might take a while.

  • After everything is done, you have to open File Explorer and then run a search task to test things.

You can use any query of your choice – if you are sure the item you are searching for exists on your computer, which means Windows should find it.

If Windows reports nothing found as the search result – if the search function fails again – then you might as well reboot your PC to force through more changes (outstanding changes) and then recheck things.

  1. Restart Cortana’s process:

Cortana is the digital or personal assistant Microsoft introduced in Windows 10. If you use Cortana – or if the assistant is activated for use on your computer – then its shortcomings might have something to do with the search function’s struggles. The bugs or inconsistencies in Cortana’s code or the wider Windows operating system environment sometimes cause the assistant to malfunction and break other processes or services.

Fortunately, you can fix issues affecting Cortana by simply restarting the feature’s process. To do that, you must go through these steps:

  • First, you have to open the Task Manager application by right-clicking on your taskbar (at the bottom of your display) and then selecting Task Manager (from the list displayed).

Alternatively, you can use this keyword shortcut to do the same thing: Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

  • Click on More details – if the Task Manager window with limited view shows up.
  • Once the full Task Manager window comes up, you have to go through the active processes under the Processes tab.
  • Locate Cortana, click on it to get it highlighted, and then click on the End task button (in the bottom-right corner of the Task Manager window).

Windows will now act to terminate proceedings for Cortana.

  • Open Cortana through whatever means you prefer.

Windows will initialize the assistant’s process again.

  • Now, you must run some tests to confirm that the search function is back to its normal condition. Try to find something to see what happens.

  1. Restart the Windows Search service:

The Windows Search service is the service that manages important functions on behalf of the search feature in the Windows operating system environment. For example, it directs the search index function to do its job (at the appropriate time) and stops it (when necessary). If you are having no luck with search tasks in Windows, then something is probably wrong with the Windows Search service.

Like most services in Windows, the restart operation is usually sufficient to fix irregularities or inconsistencies affecting it. Go through these steps:

  • Here too, you have to open the Run app first. You can do it again using the Windows button + letter R keyboard shortcut.
  • This time, once the Run window appears, you have to type Services.msc into the text box on it.
  • Click on the OK button on the Run window (or give the Enter button on your device’s keyboard a tap).

This time, after Windows executes the code, the Services window will come up.

  • Now, you must go through the services listed on the window carefully.
  • Once you find Windows Search, you have to double-click on this service.

The Windows Search Properties (Local Computer) window will come up now.

  • You must set the Startup type to Automatic. Click on the drop-down menu and then choose Automatic.
  • You must also ensure that the service is running. Click on the Start button.
  • Click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button to save the new configuration for the Windows Search service.
  • Now, you must leave the Services window.
  • Now, you must make a fresh attempt to find something on your computer using the search function.

If the same problem manifests itself again, then you have to reboot your PC and then check again.

  1. Add system permissions to the affected folder (specific fix for the search function not working issue):

If you cannot get Windows to go through items inside a particular directory on your system disk – or if the search function struggles only when you are checking stuff in a specific folder – then you are likely to benefit from adding system permissions to the affected location. By adding system permissions to a folder, you provide Windows with all the privileges or rights it needs to operate in that folder.

These are the instructions you must follow to add system permissions to the affected folder:

  • First, you have to do a right-click on the folder involved to see the available context menu.
  • From the list of options displayed, you must choose Properties.

The Properties window for the chosen folder will be brought up now.

  • Click on the Security tab (to go there).
  • Now, you must go through the list of names under the Groups or user names box. Locate System.

If System is missing from the list, then you have to click on the Edit button, click on the Add button, type System in the text box (for Enter the object names to select), and then click on the Check Names button.

  • Click on System to get it highlighted or selected. Click on the OK button.
  • Now, under the Allow column, you have to click on the checkboxes for these parameters: Read & execute, Read, and List folder contents.
  • Click on the OK button. Keep clicking on the OK button until every window gets closed.
  • Now, you must go back to the File Explorer and then run a search task in the folder where the Search function struggled or failed to work earlier to see what happens this time.

  1. Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter:

If you are not familiar with troubleshooters, then you are about to learn that troubleshooters are incredibly helpful programs that assist users in diagnosing and resolving problems in the Windows operating system environment. There are different troubleshooters for different utilities, setups, and configurations. Microsoft designed troubleshooters to assist with issues with specific scenarios in mind. Therefore, troubleshooters are not infallible.

Since you are yet to find a way to get the search function back up (to its normal working condition), then it makes sense for you to get help from a troubleshooter. Given the problem you are dealing with currently, the Search and Indexing troubleshooter is the troubleshooter most likely to assist you in some way, so you have to run it.

Follow these instructions to run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter:

  • First, to get to the Windows Start menu, you have to tap the Windows button on your machine’s keyboard (or click on the Windows icon on your desktop screen to do the same thing).
  • Now, you have to click on the settings icon (around the bottom-left area of the Start screen) to open the Settings application.
  • Once the Settings window comes up, you have to click on Update and Security (on the main menu screen).
  • Now, you must look at the list close to the left pane area of the window and then click on Troubleshoot.
  • On the right, under the Troubleshoot menu, you have to go through the list of available troubleshooters (or troubleshooting categories).
  • Locate Search and Indexing. Click on this troubleshooter.
  • Click on the Run the troubleshooter button (that only recently appeared).

The troubleshooter window for Search and Indexing will be brought up now.

  • If you see the What problems do you notice? screen, then you have to click on the box for Files don’t appear in search results (to select this option).
  • You must now click on the Next button.
  • Perform outstanding tasks. Follow the on-screen instructions. Monitor the proceedings as best as you can.

If everything goes well, then the troubleshooter will execute the necessary operations to resolve the problems affecting the search function in your case. You might have to click on a button to instruct the troubleshooter to apply the fixes. Or you might have to go through the presented resolutions or suggested solutions to the problem, which means you will have to do some work on your own to make things right.

Whatever happens, after everything involving the troubleshooting tool gets done, you have to try to use the Windows Search to see how the feature now performs. If the same search issues come into play, then you have to restart your PC and then run the tests again.

  1. Configure your computer to choose default apps by protocol:

Some users managed to resolve the File Explorer search not working issue by configuring their computers to choose Default apps by protocol. They had to navigate to the Apps menu in Settings and did some work there. We want you to make the same changes to your computer configuration to see if you get the same result.

Go through these steps:

  • First, you have to open the Settings application by pressing (and holding down) the Windows button on your PC’s keyboard and then giving the letter I key a tap.
  • Assuming the Settings window is now on your screen, you have to click on Apps (on the main screen).
  • Now, you must look at the left pane area of the window and go through the list there. Click on Default apps.
  • On the right pane area of the window, under Default apps, you have to click on the Choose default apps by protocol link.
  • On the screen that follows, you have to look at the left pane area, check for Windows search protocol, and then click on it.
  • Now, on the right pane area, you have to click on Windows Explorer (to select this option). That will be all.
  • You can now leave the Settings window.
  • Open the File Explorer app and then search for something there to see how things turn out this time.

  1. Re-register Cortana:

We already established the link between Cortana’s shortcomings and the File Explorer search not working issue. The procedure here is used to mitigate the effects of the inconsistencies or irregularities affecting Cortana. While Cortana is just a digital assistant built into Windows, its process application is hardly a regular program.

Cortana cannot be uninstalled or removed through the regular standard uninstallation procedures (from the Programs and Features menu in Control Panel or Apps screen in Settings). To be fair, we would rather you reinstalled Cortana to fix its problems. For this reason, we want you to re-register Cortana because the processes that make up the reregistering operation are quite similar to the ones in the regular reinstallation tasks.

Follow these instructions to reregister Cortana:

  • First, you have to tap the Windows button on your machine’s keyboard (or click on the Windows icon visible on your desktop screen).
  • Type PowerShell into the text box (that appears the moment you begin to type) to perform a search task quickly using that word as the query.
  • Once Windows PowerShell (Desktop app) comes up as the primary entry on the results list, you have to do a right click on it to see the available options.
  • Select Run as administrator.

The admin PowerShell window is supposed to come up now.

If you could not launch the administrator PowerShell window through the steps we just described because nothing showed up when you searched for PowerShell, then you have to do things this way:

  • Open the Run app quickly using the Windows button + letter R key combination.
  • After the small Run window comes up, you have to input the following code into the text box there:

C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0

You will be directed to a specific location on a File Explorer window.

  • Now, in your current location, you have to locate powershell.exe and then do a right-click on it to see the available context menu.
  • Select Run as administrator.

The admin PowerShell window will be displayed now.

Assuming you now have the required PowerShell window on your screen, you must continue with these instructions:

  • Type this code:

Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

  • Hit the Enter button on your machine’s keyboard to force Windows to execute the code.

That will be all.

  • Close the elevated PowerShell application window.

You must now bring up the search function on the Windows Start screen or open the File Explorer application and then try to find something there. If the search task fails again (like before), then you must restart your computer and then make another attempt at the same task.

  1. Configure Windows to search the contents of your files:

By default, when the search function is enabled for use, Windows is supposed to go through the contents of files automatically. In fact, your computer is programmed to check a large number of items to get them indexed. Well, some users – who were struggling with the search function – managed to make things right by providing specific instructions to their computers to get Windows to search the contents of their files.

However strange the move might seem to be, it actually delivered good results in some cases. Therefore, you must give it a chance. The procedure (or the process involved) is entirely harmless, so you have nothing to lose (even if the operation fails to do enough to fix the search function problems on your computer).

Do this:

  • Assuming you are on the File Explorer window where you are trying to search for items, you have to click on View (close to the top of the window).

The parameters under the View tab will become visible now.

  • Click on Options (around the top-right corner of the window).

The Folder Options window will come up now.

  • Click on the Search tab (to go there).
  • Click on the box for Always search file names and contents (this might take several minutes).
  • Click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button to save the new configuration for Folder Options.
  • Close the File Explorer application window and other active apps.
  • Restart your PC.
  • Open the File Explorer app. You must now try to search for something to see what happens.

  1. Download and install Windows updates:

There is a good chance the File Explorer search not working problem is entirely down to bugs or inconsistencies in Windows code. Microsoft is likely to have issued patches and fixes to eliminate the issues in updates or newer Windows builds. However, since your PC is yet to download and install the latest Windows updates, your computer lacks the essential patches and fixes.

Devices running Windows 10 are supposed to search for, download, and install updates automatically (for the most part), but you might have changed your computer’s settings to prevent it from working on updates without your permission, or something might have broken the automatic update function on your computer. To this end, we want you to instruct your computer to check for updates manually. You will then have to run and install all the updates that Windows finds.

Follow these instructions to do the job here:

  • Open the Settings application by pressing (and holding down) the Windows button on your machine’s keyboard and then hitting the letter I key.
  • Assuming the Settings window is now on your screen, you have to click on Update and Security (one of the options on the main screen).
  • Now, you must look at the right pane area of the window. Under Windows Update, you must click on the Check for updates button.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to perform the tasks involving updates.

You must do whatever it takes to get your computer to install all the available updates.

Once you are done with the Windows update processes – if your computer has nothing left to install – you have to restart your PC to finish things. You might end up having to reboot your machine several times while Windows installs updates in successive sessions.

After you finish everything involving Windows updates, you have to boot your computer into the regular Windows operating system environment. You must go to your desktop and then open the File Explorer application. As usual, you have to test things by running search tasks using known queries to see if the relevant results come up.

TIP:

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Other things you can try to resolve the File Explorer search not working problem on a Windows 10 computer

If your computer is still struggling (or refusing) to display relevant results when you try to find something, then you have to try out these solutions and workarounds to the File Explorer Search not working issue on our final list.

  1. Configure Windows to index the disk for fast file searching.
  1. Run some scans using the SFC and DISM utilities.
  1. Create a new administrator account and use it to sign in to your computer.
  1. Refresh/reset Windows.
  1. Clean install Windows.