Windows 11 Search Bar Not Working
Did you start the day to find that the search bar is missing or not working correctly? The search bar on Windows 11 allows you to search your PC for local items and the web for other related items.
For me, I use search exclusively as it’s extremely fast to find and launch apps that I need. If it’s not working, my productivity comes to a screeching halt.
If you’re experiencing an issue with the search bar, here are some fixes for Windows 11 search bar not working.
Make Sure Search Bar is Enabled
Note: The search bar on Windows 11 isn’t like the one on Windows 10. It appears as a search button next to the Start button on Windows 11.
The search bar on Windows 11 has a new look compared to the one on Windows 10.
The search bar can be turned on or off in Windows 11 personalization settings. Maybe it was turned off while customizing the taskbar, or it was accidentally turned off for another reason.
To enable search on the taskbar, use the following steps:
- Click the Start button or hit the Windows key and click Settings.
- When Settings opens, click Personalization from the left pane and Taskbar from the options on the right.
- Expand the Taskbar items section and make sure Search is enabled.
Afterward, you should see the search icon next to the Start button on the taskbar. If you don’t see it or it’s still not working, continue with the troubleshooting steps below.
Restart Windows
Restarting your PC can fix a lot of problems with Windows 11. A restart will remove apps and background processes potentially conflicting with search.
Right-click the Start button and select Shut down or sign out > Restart.
After the restart, sign in with your Microsoft account and see if the search bar is now working.
Update Windows 11
Windows 11 will update itself in the background when Microsoft sends out updates. Updates include bug fixes and security and system patches. However, you might not have gotten a recent update for some reason, but you can get it manually.
A recent update might include a bug fix that’s causing Windows search not to work.
To manually update Windows, use the following steps:
- Open Start > Settings.
- When Settings opens, click on Windows Update on the left pane.
- Click the Check for updates button.
- If updates are available, click the Download & install button, and restart your PC if required to complete installation.
After the update process completes, see if the search bar is working. If not, continue with the following steps.
Restart Windows Search Bar Process
The search bar process could be suspended in the background and cause it not to work. Luckily, you can close and restart the process.
To restart the Windows Search Bar process, do the following:
- Open Task Manager by hitting the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- When Task Manager launches, switch to the Details tab and sort by name.
- Right-click on services.exe and select End task.
- Click the End process button when the verification message appears.
After you end the task, click on the Search icon on the taskbar, and it will restart and should start to work correctly again.
Restart Windows Search Service
If the search bar restart didn’t work, you can try a restart of the entire search service.
Use the following steps to restart Windows Search Service:
- Hit Windows key + R to bring up the Run dialog.
- Type services.msc and click OK or hit Enter.
- Sort processes by name to find Windows Search and double-click it.
- When the Windows Search Properties screen opens, click the Stop button.
- After stopping the service, click the Start button to see if the Windows 11 search bar is working.
Use the Windows Search Troubleshooter
If the search bar still isn’t working, give the built-in Search and Indexing troubleshoot a try.
To use the troubleshooter, do the following:
- Open Settings and navigate to System > Troubleshoot.
- Select the Other troubleshooters option.
- Scroll down the list to Search and Indexing and click the Run button next to it.
- When the troubleshooter launches, check the problem you’re having and follow the onscreen instructions. The troubleshooter should automatically fix the problem.
Fixing Windows Search Bar
If the Windows search bar is missing or it’s not working correctly, the steps above should get it working again.
Some users might not appreciate the web results that Windows 11 search provides. In that instance, you can disable web search results. On the other hand, you might not want Windows to search specific files and folders. Luckily you can hide files and folders from search on Windows 11.
It’s also important to mention that search generally works as expected, but sometimes you might need to manage search indexing on Windows 11.
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PhredE
July 27, 2022 at 7:25 am
There’s a little-appreciated aspect of running a modern Windows computer, but to take advantage of it you have to transition to a state of IRL.
In real life.
Our computers are highly complex systems that contain many running sub-systems, all the while maintaining the prime directive: serve the user. This takes the form of providing a secure environment free of abuse by alien processes, and of providing a system that responds essentially immediately to user instructions, typically via input devices – mouse and keyboard.
Because of these requirements, IME, Windows is usually holding back on other background functions, waiting until the user has diverted his or her attention and decided that there’s an opportunity for it to perform necessary ‘personal administration’ upon itself. There’s things that need to be done – whenever it gets a chance.
There are many times when Windows is in a distressed state. It knows it will be required to perform certain functions but knows that it is so unstable that it won’t be able to execute them.
It’s like knowing that you’re about to fall off a cliff and knowing at the same time that you won’t be able to prevent your plummet.
This is when Windows just won’t do what it knows it should do.
The answer is to walk away.
IRL, lift your hands, stand up, and go and do something else.
When Windows senses that a user is not in attendance it will initiate its personal administration duties. If you sneak back and look at your machine, or listen to it, you will find that it’s working away within itself – doing things. This is most likely when it will revive things like the search function. After a while, or perhaps tomorrow, things will work again. Look for a ‘Reboot required’ alert, too.
With heightened energy fear these days we often just close our machines down when we’re finished with them, and they never get a chance to reorganise themselves.
Stand up, leave your computer running, walk away.