If Windows Search is unresponsive or the search results don't appear as expected, try any of the following solutions.
Check for updates
Windows 10 lets you choose when and how to get the latest updates to help keep your device running smoothly and securely.
Or, select the Start button, and then go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Check for updates. Install any available updates, and then restart your computer if the updates require this.
For more information, see Update Windows 10.
Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter
Indexing the contents of your PC helps you get faster results. Learn more about Search indexing in Windows 10.
Use the Windows Search and Indexing troubleshooter to try to fix any problems that affect this process. To do this, follow these steps:
- Select Start , then select Settings .
- In Windows Settings, select Update & security > Troubleshoot . Under Find and fix other problems, select Search and Indexing .
- Run the troubleshooter, and select any problems that apply. Windows will try to detect and solve them.
You can also use a command prompt to open the troubleshooter. To do this, press Windows logo key +R, enter cmd in the Open box, and then select OK. At the command prompt, run the following command:
msdt.exe -ep WindowsHelp id SearchDiagnostic
Restart Windows Search or your device
End the SearchUI process to restart Windows Search. To do this, follow these steps:
- Press Ctrl+Alt+Del, and select Task Manager.
- In the Task Manager window, select the Details tab.
- In the Name column, right-click SearchUI.exe, and then select End task.
- When you are prompted to end SearchUI.exe, select End process.
Note The Windows Search process will automatically restart the next time that you search.
If this doesn't fix your problem, try restarting your device. This will also install any pending updates.
Note You may want to bookmark this page before you restart.
Reset Windows Search
Try resetting Windows Search. To do this, use the method that's appropriate for your version of Windows.
To determine which version of Windows your device is running, follow these steps:
- Select Start > Settings > System > About .
Open About settings - Under Windows specifications, check which version of Windows your device is running.
Note Resetting Windows Search does not affect your files. However, it may temporarily affect the relevance of search results.
Note If your organization has disabled the ability to run scripts, contact your administrator for help.
Help us improve Search in Windows 10
If the previous suggestions don’t fix the problem, let us know by sending feedback in the Feedback Hub.