Learning how to fix Windows 10 search not working is beneficial for every PC owner. Windows 10 search feature is a system32 program, and it is responsible for searches and indexing in Windows explorer. This article covers everything you need to know about the Search feature in Windows 10.
Isn’t it convenient to have the ability to find anything or get the answer to any question whenever you want? Well, the feeling is mutual if you own a PC. Microsoft Inc. is a company that realizes this demand from its users, and that is why the Search application is one of the most improved features in Windows 10.
However, Windows 10 Search application is bound to malfunction at one point if you have used Windows 10 long enough. You can read this article to learn how to fix Windows 10 search not working.
How Does The Windows 10 Search Feature Work?
To understand how the Windows 10 search feature works, you first need to understand SearchApp.exe and SearchIndexer.exe programs. SearchApp.exe is the primary program that runs all the search utilities in Windows 10. The search utilities include features like the Windows 10 search bar and Cortana.
SearchIndexer.exe is a secondary program that creates, rebuilds and updates the index file in Windows10. Both Windows 10 utility programs are genuine Microsoft Inc. programs. Windows 10 search features may be corrupted or compromised by other programs.
You can check the digital signature of the SearchApp.exe or SearchIndexer.exe programs to verify and rule out any malware/spyware infiltration. Below are some solutions to fix a malfunctioning Windows 10 search feature. Here are how To fix a malfunctioning Windows 10 Search Utility Program
1. Restart Your PC
Before you start going Rambo on your PC because your Search feature is not working, you might want to try to restart your PC. It is a simple yet effective solution to unresponsive searches in Windows 10.
Restarting your PC might resolve your issue, especially if it is the first time you are experiencing search-related problems. A recurrent search issue in Windows 10 signifies a bigger problem, and you can try the solutions below.
2. Use The Troubleshooter To
You can use the troubleshooting utility to diagnose and fix common search issues in Windows 10. Follow the following steps to fix unresponsive search functions using Windows 10 troubleshooter.
Step 1: Click on the Windows Icon at the bottom left of your home screen and double click on the settings option.
Step 2: Locate the Update and Security section and click on it to access advanced options.
Step 3: Click on the Troubleshoot option and wait for the troubleshooting window to open.
Step 4: Locate the search & indexing option in the drop-down list and click on the Run the Troubleshooter button on the bottom right of the troubleshooting window.
Step 5: Check the box that best describes your search problem and click next on the diagnostics window.
Step 6: Complete the on-screen diagnostic form and click on ok to start the search & indexing troubleshooting process.
Step 7: Restart your PC after the search & indexing process is complete and check whether the search feature is back to normal.
3. Disable Bing Using Windows 10 Registry
If the search issues persist on your Windows, use the following method to try and resolve them.
Step 1: Use the Run tool to open the Registry Editor on your PC. You can do this by pressing the Windows Key + the R key simultaneously on your keyboard. Wait for the Run tool to load and type Regedit in the search box, and hit enter.
Step 2: You can wait for the Registry Editor Window to open and double-click on the HKEY_CURRENT_USER root folder to expand it.
Step 3: Locate the SOFTWARE root folder and double-click on it. Proceed to locate the MICROSOFT root folder and double-click on it.
Step 4: Scroll down until you get to the WINDOWS root folder and double-click on it. Locate the Current Version root folder and double-click on it.
Step 5: The next step is to locate the search folder and double-click on it. Point your mouse towards the right of your Registry Editor Windowpane and right-click to access the menu list.
Step 6: Click on the new option and select the D-WORD (32-bit) Value option to add a new entry to your registry.
Step 7: Type the phrase BingSearchEnabled and press the enter key to create a new Bing entry. Right-click on the new Bing registry entry and input 0 in the Value data field. Click on the Ok button to save your registry entry.
Step 8: The next task is to locate the CortanaConsent entry in your registry and double-click on it. Go to the options list and input 0 in the Value data field.
Step 9: Click ok to save your registry changes and restart your PC to complete the process.
4. Using The Task Manager
Follow the steps below to fix your Windows search issues using your task manager.
Step 1: Your first task is to right-click on the Windows icon at the bottom-right of the taskbar. Double-click on the Task Manager to open the task management console.
Step 2: Locate the Details tab and click on it to see a list of Windows background processes.
Step 3: Scroll down until you locate the SearchUI.exe Windows system program. Right-click on the SearchUI.exe system program and click on the End Process option.
Step 4: Reboot your PC so that your SearchUI.exe program can restart automatically and resolve any search issues on your PC.
FAQs
Q. How can I prevent the Windows 10 search function from crashing or malfunctioning?
The best way to keep your Windows 10 SearchApp.exe and SearchInderxer.exe programs from malfunctioning is to update your Windows OS as frequently as possible. Windows Updates has a preceding process that checks for Windows 10 Search errors and attempts to prevent or solve issues relating to the SearchApp.exe or SearchIndexer.exe programs.
Q. Should I suspend or disable Search on my Windows 10 PC?
Microsoft Inc. recommends keeping your Windows 10 search feature active to have a better user experience when exploring your PC. Windows 10 Search feature interconnects to other Windows programs and services like Cortana and SearchIndexer.exe. Disabling or suspending the search feature may cause other programs that depend on it to stop working.
Q. Which is the quickest way to fix Windows 10 Search problems?
The quickest fix for Search issues in Windows 10 is to utilize the troubleshooting utility in Windows Update and Security control panel. You can run the search and indexing troubleshooting utility to diagnose and repair your Windows Search-related problems.
Conclusion
You can use the above methods to resolve problems with your search feature in Windows 10. The above procedures are helpful when resolving SearchApp.exe and SearchIndexer.exe issues. Consider using the above solutions because they are simple and easy to perform on any Windows 10 computer.
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