Fix: “Windows 11 Search Not Working” Issue

In this article we will show you how to Fix “Windows 11 Search Not Working” Issue. If your Windows 11 search bar isn’t working, there are a few quick ways to get things going again. Even the most recent version of Microsoft’s operating system (OS) can sometimes have problems.

The Windows Search bar is the most important tool for many Windows users. On a device with Windows 11, however, you may not be able to use this choice. This is a regular problem for people who want to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free. You can also go to the official Microsoft support site for more information about this issue .

Windows lets you look for files, apps, and folders in a way that is similar to how Spotlight look works on a Mac. But what if Windows search doesn’t work or gives you options that don’t help? You have to search for the things you want by hand, which takes time and doesn’t get you anywhere. Instead, you can use the tips below to fix Windows 11’s search problem.

Ways to Fix “Windows 11 Search Not Working” Issue

Run Search and Indexing Troubleshooter

Since the search menu in Windows 11 not working is a frequent problem, Microsoft built in a troubleshooting tool that can find and fix all search menu problems with one button. We should look at it.

1. Using the Windows + I keyboard shortcut, launch the Settings app on your Windows 11 PC.
2. Here, under the System, look for the Troubleshooting option and click on it.
3. Now, select other troubleshooters.
4. After that, simply hit Run next to the Search and Indexing troubleshooter option.
5. Sit back and relax until Windows troubleshoot the search menu and looks for any problems.
6. In a couple of seconds, you will have an option to choose your issue with the search menu. Accordingly, select your issues with the Windows 11 search menu.
7. Click next and describe your issue in detail, and again hit next.
8. Once done, Windows will try to apply all possible fixes and resolve the Windows 11 search menu not working problem.

Force Stop Search Service Using Ctrl + Alt + Delete

If the search window stops working for you for any reason, you can try to stop the service by following the steps below.

1. Launch the Windows 11 task manager by pressing the Ctrl + Alt = Delete keyboard shortcut.
2. Under the details tab, look for the SearchUI.exe, SearchHost.exe or SearchApp.exe.
3. Select the app and hit the End task option in the bottom right corner of the activate window.
4. Now, restart your PC and check if the Windows 11 search not working issue has been fixed.

Enable Search Bar in Taskbar

Microsoft made it possible to turn off the search icon in the desktop in Windows 11. So, Windows 11 users who are new are confused because they can’t find the search icon in the taskbar and can’t look for files or apps. But it’s easy to turn on the search menu in the taskbar in Windows 11; let’s take a look.

1. Launch the Windows 11 settings app using the Windows + I keyboard shortcut.
2. Navigate to the Personalization section and select the Taskbar.
3. Under taskbar items, toggle On the Search option.
4. After that, Windows 11 search menu should start working again. If you are still unable to view the search option, restart your Windows 11 PC once.

Restart Windows 11 Search Service

If Windows 11 search isn’t working, you can fix the problem by restarting the search service from the desktop. But how do you get the search service to start up again? Don’t worry about anything; we’ll take care of it all.

1. Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to bring up the Run menu.
2. After the Run window pops up, enter the following command. services.msc
3. In the new pop up window, scroll down till you see the Windows Search service.
4. Right-click on the Windows Search service and select Restart from the drop-down list.
5. The Windows 11 search menu should now function properly.

Why Is Windows Search Not Working?

Windows 11 is still new, so you should expect bugs. Bugs that affect search will be fixed in future Windows patches. Other problems might just be how they seem. When some settings are set in a certain way, they can look like a problem.

Anyhow, all search problems in Windows 11 are caused by software, so if Windows Search isn’t working, either an update from Microsoft or some changes on your end should be enough to fix it.