Windows search not working or down: An issue that can be easily fixed
Contents
- Windows search not working or down: An issue that can be easily fixed
- Ways to Fix Windows Search Not Working
- Method 1. Fix Windows search that shows blank results (2020 Update)
- Method 1. Restart Search services via Task Manager
- Method 2. Restart Windows search service
- Method 3. Restart Windows Explorer and Cortana
- Method 4. Employ Windows Troubleshooter
- Method 5. Configure the size of the paging file
- Method 6. Check Indexing Options
- Method 7. Use Powershell commands
- Method 8. Run CTFMON process
More and more users report about Windows search not working lately. The search in Start Menu is something that all Windows 7/8/10 users employ in daily tasks using the computer. A sudden disappearance of this useful tool can be a disaster. You can no longer find programs, files, or even worse, control panel to launch a troubleshooter. However, the issue can be fixed quite quickly, and there is no need to use expensive programs for that. The guide provided below also contains 2020 Update for broken Bing search after Windows update.
If Windows Start Menu Search returns no results and remains blank as you type in the search bar, then it is time to take actions immediately. Although in some cases restarting the computer might fix the problem, the issue can be more rooted in the system or be related to Windows Updates from Microsoft, such as integration with Bing search in 2020. In fact, search problems are as common as Windows sound problems, so there is no need to worry.
To enable search in Windows 10, you must check several services and settings on your computer. We have prepared a detailed guide on how to fix Windows 10 Search not working. The methods you can use are provided below.
Ways to Fix Windows Search Not Working
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Method 1. Fix Windows search that shows blank results (2020 Update)
On February 5th, many Windows 10 users around the globe discovered that Windows search shows blank results after entering a search query. Such issue arose from a Bing integration to Windows search bug. At the moment, there is nothing you can do to make the Bing service work properly as the issue lies on Microsoft’s end. However, you can disable it and continue using Windows search only. The safest way to do it is to edit the Registry yourself. We do not recommend downloading pre-made solutions as these can be recognized as dangerous by your antivirus.
How to Disable Bing Search integration
- Press Windows key + R on your keyboard at the same time. This launches the Run prompt.
- In Run prompt, type regedit and press OK.
- Now, you’re going to see User Account Control window on your screen, which asks whether you want to allow the program to make changes on your system. Click Yes.
- Now, use the left navigation pane to launch folders in the following order:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search. Or, you could just copy and paste this line in the navigation bar in Windows Registry. - Now, right-click on Search folder, and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Now, name the created DWORD Value as BingSearchEnabled.
- Double-click it to ensure it has a value of 0. If you’re not familiar with technical terms, 0 means negative (false) and 1 means positive (true) value in IT. This is why BingSearchEnabled with value 0 means it is actually disabled.
- Now, in the same Search folder, find a key named CortanaConsent. Double-click it and set its value to 0. Click OK to confirm.
- Close the Registry and restart your computer for changes to take effect. Your Windows search should be back to normal and no longer show blank results.
TIP. Sooner or later Microsoft will release a fix for the Windows Search blank results error. As soon as it becomes available, you can delete the EnableBingSearch key and set CortanaConsent key value to 1 again.
Method 1. Restart Search services via Task Manager
One of the easiest methods to enable search in Windows is to restart Search and Cortana services via Windows Task Manager.
- Open Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del. If required, click Task Manager. Now, go to the Details tab.
- Here, find SearchUI.exe process. Right-click on it and select End Task. This will automatically restart the Search and Cortana application. Check if the problem was solved by typing something in Start Menu Search.
Method 2. Restart Windows search service
You can restart Windows search service via Services panel.
- Launch Run prompt by pressing Windows key + R. Type services.msc and hit Enter.
- Find a process called Windows Search. Right-click it and choose Restart. Try to use the search now.
- Optional. After you right-click on the process, you can also go to Properties and set Startup type to Automatic. Don’t forget to click Apply and OK after doing so.
Method 3. Restart Windows Explorer and Cortana
In case the previous methods didn’t solve the issue with Windows search, you should try to restart Windows Explorer and Cortana.
- Launch Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del and select Task Manager. Or you can simply click Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- In Processes tab, find one called Windows Explorer. Right-click it to launch quick menu and select Restart. Now find a process called Cortana and do the same thing with it. Check if the Windows search not working error is now fixed.
Method 4. Employ Windows Troubleshooter
Windows Troubleshooter can help you to restore indexing services. In addition, troubleshooters are good because they do the hard work for you – you just need to run them and wait for instructions.
- Since you cannot use Windows search and the results’ area remains blank as you type something in, you will need to launch Control Panel via Run prompt. Press Windows key + R, type control panel and hit Enter.
- Go to Troubleshooting > System and Security. Now, click Troubleshoot common computer problems. New window should appear. Here, find Search and Indexing option and click it, then hit Run the Troubleshooter button.
- The troubleshooter should itself suggest running it as Administrator during the process. Agree to do so.
- Apply the suggested fixes.
- Check if the “search bar doesn’t work Windows 10” problem persists.
Method 5. Configure the size of the paging file
- Press Windows key + R on your keyboard. Type sysdm.cpl and press Enter.
- Navigate to Advanced tab, then click on Settings… in the Performance section. Look for Virtual memory area and click on Change… button here.
- Put a tick in the checkbox that says Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
- Choose Custom size and enter 16 for Initial size and 2000 for the Maximum size. Press OK to confirm.
Method 6. Check Indexing Options
Yet another method to fix Windows 10 search that keeps loading is to slightly alter Indexing Options.
- Press two buttons at the same time: Windows key + R. Now, type control panel and hit Enter.
- In Control Panel, set View by to Large icons. Now look for Indexing Options and open it.
- Click on Advanced and then Rebuild in Troubleshooting. Click OK to confirm. As you can see, you can also access Windows search troubleshooter here if you wish to try it.
Method 7. Use Powershell commands
You can try running several commands via Powershell to fix the issue. Just copy and paste them.
- Right-click on Windows icon in the taskbar. Choose Windows Powershell (Admin). Click Yes in UAC window.
- Enter the given line and press Enter: PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
- Then copy and paste then second command and press Enter:
$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + ‘\AppxManifest.xml’ ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest - Restart your computer and check if the problem was solved.
Method 8. Run CTFMON process
Ctfmon.exe is a process that is responsible for Windows Alternative User Input and and Office language bar. Running this process might solve the search problem in Windows, so consider doing it:
- Press Windows + R to open Run.
- Paste the given line into it and press OK:
C:\Windows\System32\ctfmon.exe
If you have any other solutions for this problem, please share them with our community.
Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.
fizza iqbal says
much appreciated last process worked for me
Shadow Monarch says
Thanks. the ctfmon.exe command worked for me. Much appreciated.
Thevinu says
thanks bro,
Method 8 worked for me. I searched every things in google to solve this problem.
I respect you
Keanu says
method 8 worked for me but i need to use it everytime i turn on my pc.
Daniel says
THANKS SO MUCH
Method 8. Run CTFMON process
FIXED MY PROBLEMS!
Amy says
Thank you so much for all these (possible) solutions !
I only dared to try the “troubleshooting” option, and the result was
(in Dutch, sorry … ):
“Onjuiste machtigingen voor Windows Search mappen”
Oh well, I’ll just wait to see if the next update will fix it.
Norbert Webb says
The update is available already, just install it. Press Win key + I to open Windows settings, then go to Update & Security. Here, you can check for Windows updates ready to download/install.
Amy says
I did what you said and installed the update …..
Yay !!! Everything is back to normal !
Thank you Norbert !
Felix says
Much appreciated for sharing the 2020 2/5 registry edit fix. Literally tried all the other solutions to no avail and was going crazy.
Norbert Webb says
Glad it helped, Felix.
r00t-3xp10it says
good… you have figure it out my soluction .. (ctfmom.exe) …
All the other steps have not worked for me.. but i have notest that ctfmom does not start with windows ,, so i needed to make a shortcut out of it and copy it to startup folder .. now ctfmom starts with windows and i have the search function working .. this was the only website that have presented the ctfmom soluction.. congratz ..