Windows Start and search bar aren't working.

Lana Zemler 45 Reputation points
2026-06-15T14:12:27.9966667+00:00

I tried posting my problem but it was deleted for some reason ? My start button and search box won't work. I can right click the start button and get the menu to come up ,but I can't left click it. I tried clicking on settings, system, and others, but nothing happens. And I can't type anything in the search box.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Start Menu
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Answer accepted by question author
TaoLi 112K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-06-16T02:32:00.1266667+00:00

Hi Lana,

No problem, and you did the right thing by stopping and asking.

Please don’t type the second command yet. While the first command is running, PowerShell usually will not let you type anything else.

If it has been stuck at 64.1% for a very long time, you can close the PowerShell window, restart the PC, then open PowerShell as administrator again and run the first command once more.

If the first command finishes successfully, you may skip the next command for now and continue with the remaining Start/Search repair commands. Please run only one command at a time.

If it gets stuck again or shows an error, stop there and let me know. Don’t worry, this should not remove your files.

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Answer accepted by question author

AI answer

2026-06-15T14:12:42.3533333+00:00

Use the following steps in order. Test Start and Search after each step.

  1. Restart Windows Explorer
    1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
    2. Select More details if needed.
    3. On the Processes tab, find Windows Explorer.
    4. Right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.
  2. Sign out and sign back in
    1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and choose Sign out.
    2. Sign back into the same account.
  3. Check for Windows updates
    1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, choose Run new task from File.
    2. Type ms-settings:windowsupdate and press Enter.
    3. Select Check for updates, install any available updates, and restart.
  4. Restart Windows Font Cache Service (fixes some Search issues)
    1. Press Win+R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
    2. Find Windows Font Cache Service.
    3. Right-click it and select Stop.
    4. Try using Search.
    5. Right-click Windows Font Cache Service again and select Start.
  5. Regenerate the Search app (if Search still does not work)
    1. Create a new local admin account and sign into it to confirm Search works there.
    2. Sign back into the affected account.
    3. Press Win+R, type cmd, then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
    4. Run regedit.
    5. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search and delete the Search key.
    6. Close Registry Editor.
    7. Open an elevated PowerShell window (Win+X → Windows PowerShell (Admin)).
    8. Run: 
            Add-AppxPackage -Path "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\Appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register
    9. Restart the computer and test Start/Search again.

If the issue started after installing third-party security or cleanup tools, temporarily uninstall them and test again, as they can corrupt Search-related registry entries.

References:

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3 additional answers

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  1. TaoLi 112K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-06-16T07:55:53.92+00:00

    Please provide detailed screenshots, thank you.

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  2. TaoLi 112K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-06-15T23:44:04.9033333+00:00

    Hi Lana,

    Yes, that is correct. Please run one line at a time, then press Enter after each line.

    To avoid mistakes, I recommend you copy and paste each command instead of typing it manually.

    Please do it like this:

    1. Copy the first line, paste it into PowerShell, press Enter, and wait until it finishes.
    2. Then copy the second line, press Enter, and wait until it finishes.
    3. Do the same for the third and fourth lines.
    4. After all commands are finished, restart the PC.

    These commands are standard Windows repair commands. They should not delete your files or personal data.

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  3. TaoLi 112K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-06-15T14:47:44.3833333+00:00

    Hi Lana,

    Since right-click on Start still works but left-click Start, Search, and Settings do not respond, this looks like the Windows Start/Search shell may be corrupted.

    Please try this repair method:

    1.Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

    3.Click File > Run new task.

    3.Type powershell, tick Create this task with administrative privileges, then click OK.

    4.Run these commands one by one:

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

sfc /scannow

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

    After that, restart the PC and test Start/Search again.

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