Windows 10 Search Engine Not Working. Causes, Solutions and Alternatives

¿The search in Windows 10 refuses to work? Here is a set of instructions to solve the most common problems with the Windows search function. Let's see what we can do when Windows 10 search engine does not work.

In Windows 10, Windows Search is an essential feature that lets you find virtually anything on your computer—including documents, pictures, videos, system files, apps, emails, and settings—quickly and easily.

Plus, thanks to its integration with Bing search, you can use the feature to quickly access web pages and answer common questions from the results preview. In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to troubleshoot the search feature on your device.

Windows 10 Search Engine Not Working

While search is a useful feature that we take for granted every day, there will come a time when it stops working as expected. For example, sometimes search queries will return no or no results at all.

The search box on the taskbar will stop responding or won't open at all. Whatever the reason, if you're having problems with Windows 10 search, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve it.

1. Remove Bing from Windows 10 search

In light of the recent Windows 10 search issues where nothing is displayed in the bar or window, many have found a solution by disabling Bing integration.

This requires working with RegEdit, so it is recommended to make a backup of both your PC and your registry.

Once the necessary backups have been made, follow these steps to get local search working again. Web results will not be displayed while Bing is disabled.

• Press the key shortcut Windows + R on your keyboard.
• Write regedit and press “Enter” on your keyboard.
• double click on HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
• Then double click on SOFTWARE.
• Now go to the folder “Microsoft".
• And here, enter “Windows".
• Then go to the folder “CurrentVersion".
• Double click on “Search".
• Now right click on the right pane of the window RegEdit to open the menu.
• Click on "New".
• Click on D-WORD (32-bit) value.
• Write BingSearchEnabled and press “Enter".
• Double click on the entry BingSearchEnabled that you just created.
• Write 0 in the “Value data” field. (It should already be 0, but make sure.)
• Now click on “Accept".
• Then double click on CortanaConsent.
• Writes "0” in the data field.
• Click on "Accept".
• Now exit all this settings and restart your PC.

This should bring the Windows 10 search tool back online, at least with local results.

This is a temporary fix while Microsoft addresses the root cause of the issue, and users are advised to undo the changes once search is working as expected again.

To undo the above process, repeat all the steps, but enter a 1 in the data field BingSearchEnabled to re-enable Bing. The same can be done for the data field CortanaConsent.

Restart your PC and everything should be back to normal.

2. Fix the search with the troubleshooter

If you're having trouble searching in Windows 10 and restarting your device doesn't fix the problem, you can use the Windows XNUMX settings. Problem Solver to diagnose and solve the most common problems.

And you can perform this task from the application Configuration or Symbol of the systemTo fix the search function using the Settings app, follow these steps:

Using “Settings”

• Opens "Configuration".
• Now click on “Update and security".
• Then click on "Solve problems".
• In the section "Find and fix other problems«, select the option “Search and indexing".
• Now click on the button "Run the troubleshooter".
• Check the issues that best describe your situation. For example, files are not showing up in the search results option.
• Click on the “Next".
• Continue with the on-screen instructions (if applicable).
• Once you complete the steps, the search function should start working again on your computer.

Using “Command Prompt”

Alternatively, you can also launch the troubleshooter using the command prompt:

• Use the key Windows + R to open the command “Run".
• Type the following command:
  • cmd
• Click on the “Accept"
• Now type the following command to start the troubleshooter:
  • msdt -ep WindowsHelp id SearchDiagnostic
• Press "Enter".
• Now click on the option “Advanced".
• Check the option "Apply repairs automatically".
• Click on the “Next".
• Check the problems that best describe your situation.
• Click on the “Next".
• Continue with the on-screen instructions (if applicable).

After you complete the steps, the Search and Indexing troubleshooter will scan and fix the most common issues with the feature.

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3. Fix the search using the reset option

You can also restart the Windows 10 process that controls search elements by following these steps:

• Right click on the taskbar and select the option “Task Manager".
• Alternatively, you can open the Task Manager using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or using the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Delete and selecting the item from the Task Manager.
• Now click on the “ tabDetails".
• Right click on the process exe and select the “ buttonFinish homework".
• Now click on the button "End process".

Once you complete the steps, the process should restart automatically. If it doesn't restart immediately, restart your computer and then confirm if the search has been fixed.

4. Fix the search using the reset option

Si Windows Search still not working on Windows 10, you may be able to fix the problem by resetting the feature. However, the reset process will depend on the version of the operating system currently installed on your computer.

First let's check the Windows 10 version.

• Opens "Configuration".
• Click on "Devices".
• Now click on “About".
• In the section "Windows Specifications", confirms the Windows 10 version.

After completing these steps, you'll know which version of Windows 10 is running on your computer. Depending on which version you have, use one of the following two methods.

Reset search in Windows 10 version 1903

• Open the Microsoft Download Center website.
• Click on the “Download" in the section "Reset the sequence of commands"Of PowerShell Windows Search.
• Save the file . Ps1 on your computer, for example, in the folder «Downloads«.
• Right click on the “ buttonHome” and select the option “Windows PowerShell (Admin)".
• Alternatively, you can also open PowerShell using the key Windows + R, by typing the command PowerShell and using Ctrl + Shift + Enter to activate the command as administrator.
• Now type the following command to determine the current running configuration of the script:
  • Get-ExecutionPolicy
• Then press “Log in".
• Confirms the execution policy, for example, restricted.
• Type the following command to allow scripts to run on your device:
  • Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
• Press "Log in".
• Writes "Y” and press “Log in” (if applicable).
• Now type the following command to run the script:
  • & «C:\Users\YOUR-ACCOUNT-FOLDER\Downloads\ResetWindowssearchBox.ps1»
• In the command, make sure to replace «YOUR-ACCOUNT-FOLDER» with the name of the folder in your account.
• Press "Log in".
• Writes "R” and press “Log inr ".
• Type the following command to set the original script execution policy:
  • Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Restricted
• Press "Log in".
• Write "Y" and press “Log in".

Once you complete the steps, your search should start working as before.

Reset search in Windows 10 version 1809

If your device is running Windows 10 version 1809, to reset the search feature, follow these steps:

• Open home.
• Right click on Cortana in the list «All applications«.
• Select the option “More".
• Click on the option "Application settings".
• Click on the “Resetting".

After completing the steps, the reset process should fix the issue and the search box on the taskbar should work as expected.

5. Correct the search using index settings

The indexing feature can also cause issues that may prevent search results from being returned on your device. If you have tried all of the instructions above, you can try rebuilding the index database to fix search issues on Windows 10.

To rebuild the search index on your device, follow these steps:

• Opens "Configuration".
• Click on "Search".
• Click on "Search Windows".
• Click on the option "Configuring the Advanced Search Indexer".

In case the search does not return any results for the contents of a particular folder, it is also a good idea to check the section «Excluded folders", as the search will ignore the contents of any folder in this list.

If the folder you want to search is part of the excluded list, select it and click the “Delete".

• Click on the “Advanced".
• Click the Index Settings tab.
• In the section "Problem solving«, click on the button “Rebuild".
• Click on the “Accept".

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will delete and rebuild the index database.

However, while the database is being rebuilt, searches in the taskbar, the File Browser and throughout the operating system may be incomplete until all files are indexed again.

6. Restart Windows Search

In the rare case that you see searches with no results and are unable to access indexing settings, the Windows Search service may be disabled on your computer.

To enable indexing and search service, follow these steps:

• Use the key Windows + R to open the command “Run".
• Type the following command:
  • services.msc
• Click on the “Accept".
• Now select "Windows Search" or "Windows Search Service".
• Now in the next window, click on the “General admission".
• Use the menu «Start type» and select the option “Automatic (Delayed Start)".
• Then click on the button “Start".
• Then to the button “Apply".
• And finally to the button “Accept".

After completing the steps, Windows Search will be enabled on your computer, and you should be able to start finding files and apps for the taskbar and File Explorer again.

7. Fix the search using Windows Update

En Windows 10Quality updates may include fixes for search functionality, but they may also be the reason the feature is discontinued.

Performing the update

If you haven't updated Windows 10 in a while, perhaps the latest update may include a fix for Windows Search. To update Windows 10 to the latest version, follow these steps:

• Opens "Configuration".
• Then go to “Update and security".
• Now select "Windows Update".
• In the right panel, click on “Search for updates".
• After performing the update, click the “Restart now".

After completing the steps, the latest maintenance update should resolve any search issues on your computer.

Removing the last update

While Microsoft strives to release updates to improve the overall Windows 10 experience, sometimes a buggy update can make its way onto devices, potentially breaking some features, such as Windows Search.

If you suspect that a recent update is the reason why Windows Search is not working, follow these steps to remove it:

• Opens "Configuration".
• Then go to “Update and security".
• Now select "Windows Update".
• In the right panel, click on “View update history".
• Click on the option "Uninstall updates".
• Select the latest update installed on your computer.
• Click on the “uninstall".
• Click the “Yes” button to confirm.
• When uninstalling, please reboot your device.

Once you complete the steps, the problematic update will be removed from Windows 10, fixing any search issues, and the update itself should not automatically download and install until the company releases a follow-up release.

Alternatives to Windows Search

Most of the time, when we need to search for files in Windows 10 or earlier versions like Windows 8, what do we do? We open My PC and we use the search box on the top right side to find most PC files.

In fact, the features of the built-in Windows search tool are good and work very well. However, in case your Windows 10 search is not working or you want some advanced options, there are some good free programs available for download online.

Not only are they lightweight, but some of them offer a portable version that skips the need for installation. We can use them to find various files based on their format, extension, and more.

1. List

A very light tool of just under 4 MB, Listary It has a minimal design and an easy-to-use interface. The concept of the tool is unique, we don't have to open it every time to search for something.

Simply type the folder or file name and Listary will automatically capture it to give you the result. The feature that allows you to instantly search for files using Listary, is known as ““Disk Search” which allows users to write directly into Windows Explorer.

The program is not limited to just files, but can also search and open applications. To activate the function Launch Listary App, simply press the Ctrl key twice and start typing the name of the software you want to use.

Moreover, we can also use it to search for online websites or web pages using various search engines. Apart from the usual installer, the portable version of Listary is available on the official website.

2. Everything

Everything is a free fast file search tool for Windows 10 and Windows 8, which is not only lightweight but also a fast way to search all types of files on your computer.

It is available in two forms, regular and portable installation. We can use Everything without installing anything on our Windows 10. Just unzip the folder, double-click on the setup and start searching for files on the hard drives installed on the computer.

After launching it, the software starts indexing the files in the background, which helps the user in future to find files without waiting for long.

You can adapt Everything to your needs through “Configuration". Everything It is also integrated into the tray area next to the clock. With the menu item "Search» You can choose what type of file you are looking for.

Two very useful features for those who want to access their system file via ETP/FTP or HTTP server. Yes, Everything It comes with built-in FTP and HTTP servers, we can launch them with one click to access all the files on our system over the local network.

Furthermore, we can restrict the software to search for files on any particular drive of the PC or we can extend that to search even network folders and removable drives.

In case you have some sensitive files or folders that you don't want to be Everything index or display in search results, a provision is also available to exclude such items.

3. Wise JetSearch

Wise Jet Search is another good fast file search software for Windows 10 on our list. This is a software of around 5 MB with a simple and minimal interface to offer only the things a person needs, the focus of which is only fast file search.

To make things easier for users, JetSearch integrates a search bar at the top of the window. It offers a pop-up widget that, by default, hides at the top of the screen and, when we hover over it, appears with a search box.

At the top left, select the location of storage or the drive you want to search for documents. Enter your search term in the middle and start your search with the “Search” button. You can use the search field to choose what type of document you are looking for.

4. UltraSearch

Ultra Search is one of the file search software that integrates so well with Windows, that you won't believe you are using some third-party tool to search, and not Windows File Explorer.

Its interface is similar to Windows Explorer and so are the icons. That makes it easy to understand for the users, so anyone can handle it to find all the files in Windows 10 and Windows 8.

We can add local and network drives with a single click. While the left side of the search result can be viewed to preview the files and folders including other details.

With every click, Ultra Search allows you to copy the path, exclude files from the search, select the types of files you want to search, delete, open, rename and more.

Ultra Search works with the Master File Table (MFT), which Windows creates by default. Through “Options” We can make further configurations, for example, defining groups of files or expanding the Explorer context menu.

5. Lookeen

If your Windows 10 file search is not working, Lookeen is another free option for searching. You can easily find a file saved on your computer's local and network drives once the indexing has been done in the software.

Of course, if you have a lot of data, this will take some time. The interface of Lookeen It is quite user-friendly and modern. Anyone could easily understand it.

Once you install this folder or file search tool, indexing will not start automatically and we have to do it manually.

The free version of Lookeen Not only does it index files in real time, but it also offers a preview of the files (PDF files, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) when the user selects them.

We can even edit text files directly in Lookeen's preview window. You can index Outlook categories or exclude files based on their extensions.

To save time, we can schedule the indexing process as per our convenience, the software will do it as per the instructions. Thus, it will save our time and save us from doing the same manually. It is compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 8.

6. GrepWin

The project GrepWin is available for download as an installer and options portableIt is open source, so anyone can use it for free.

However, this file search tool is a bit advanced and beginners might take some time to get familiar with how it works.

Anyone who has dealt with the Windows 10 File Explorer search syntax can easily get used to it. GrepWin. It is suitable for a complete file search.

The tool works with regular expressions, RegEx and you can save certain search terms as favorites.

We can limit the search by file size and date, create backups of files, include hidden items and more. But all from the software's unique Windows design.

7. Fileseek

Another powerful free option to search Windows and other files and folders on local or network drives is FileseekBy default, all available drives will be selected in the software.

Fileseek's interface is compact and all possible elements are immediately accessible, including file preview.

We can exclude the path or some particular files from appearing in the search results. Size and data filters can also be used to get precise results.

One thing you need to keep in mind for Fileseek, during installation, it will ask you to install other software from the same developer. Just decline them and you will only have Fileseek on your system.

8. Copernic Desktop

Copernic Desktop It is a freemium tool that comes with advanced search options, however, for advanced features, users need to opt for the paid version.

Because the free version is not only limited to indexing a maximum of 75.000 files and also lacks features like searching for Outlook emails, Adobe Photoshop, e-books, etc.

Well, the free version is not bad, we have a good interface and the ability to search local, external and network drives.

To close

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You now have all the information you need if you ever have problems with the Windows search tool. You can try some of the solutions we have provided, and if that does not solve the problem, you always have the option of using other third-party software.

The alternatives we have shown you meet our requirements regarding their free nature, ease of use, and low space and resource use.