SearchHost.exe Not Running

Question

SearchHost.exe Not Running

Zoe J 11

I have recently reset my Windows 11 computer and have issues accessing the searchbar. It appears for a few seconds and then closes itself. I have the most recent updates installed and restarting my computer does not work. Troubleshooter detects an error but claims to have fixed it when it hasn't.

Something interesting happens in Task Manager > Details whenever I try to use the searchbar however. The SearchHost.exe program runs but then suspends itself, and this repeats a few times once my searchbar is closed. Has something installed wrong during my reset? I have not downloaded anything from an untrustworthy site either so highly doubt it could be a virus.

Please help if you can! This is getting really bothersome.

Zoe

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Answer 1

Hi @Zoe J

Please try the following:

Restart SearchHost.exe. This process runs each time you open the search box, and should remain suspended when the search window is closed. If there's a problem with this process opening or closing when it needs to, it could be causing your search issue.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to open Task Manager. Go into the Details tab and right-click SearchHost.exe. Select End task, and then confirm with End process. Once it disappears from Task Manager, try opening the search window again.

Another option is:

Change the search settings to scour more folders. If you think the Windows 11 search tool is broken because it's not finding files you know you have, double-check search set up to actually search those folders.

To do this, open search and select the three-dot menu button on the upper-right side, and then choose Indexing options. Enable Enhanced if you want to search through all of your PC's folders. Also confirm the folders you want to search through aren't listed in the Exclude folders from enhanced search area.

Finally, try:

Enable or restart the Windows Search service. This needs to be running in order for Windows 11 to properly search for files.

Do this by launching the Run dialog box (WIN+R) and executing the msconfig command. Open Windows Search and select Start. If it's already running, stop it and start it again.

Thanks.

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Yuk Zees 1 Reputation point

2022-12-11T10:57:18.87+00:00

I was having this problem too and spent all day trying to figure out how to fix it, this is the only thing that actually did something! Thanks a lot! I still have a slight delay when I open Microsoft edge but it's so much better than waiting 10 minutes before I could use it.

Edit: I just closed chrome and opened it again, but it is doing what it did before where it just sits at the homepage for 10 minutes and then works.

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SearchHost.exe Not Running

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