My windows search bar on windows 11 isn't working

Oliver Turk 95

It randomly stopped working and won't open at all, I can't find SearchHost.exe to check if it's enabled and I am seriously stressed because I can't open certain files or my driver installer without searching

Sonu Singh 20 Reputation points

2023-08-17T11:49:26.89+00:00

my windows 10 upgrade to windows 11 but search bar not working search feature not working
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Michael Caire 0 Reputation points

2023-10-11T16:14:30.1166667+00:00

doesn't work
Oliver Randle 40 Reputation points

2023-10-17T15:34:08.3033333+00:00

Worse than useless advice as you abandoned the 'Troubleshooting' function for this app on the last Windows update.

0/10 Microsoft and F for effort.
Qatar HD 115 Reputation points

2023-11-02T08:15:22.3333333+00:00
Natalie Kirk 0 Reputation points

2023-11-08T03:04:51.3366667+00:00

I just bought a brand new Surface Pro 9 today and I've already experienced an issue with the search. It was not even accepting input and the app list wasn't loading correctly. Why would a brand new computer be buggy already? Is it just a Windows 11 problem? If so, I want Windows 10 back.
Rod Rebello 0 Reputation points

2023-11-17T22:35:37.99+00:00

When clicking the search icon, it changes to acknowledge the click but does bring up the search menu.
CHRLAG 5 Reputation points

2023-11-24T03:55:37.4933333+00:00

I have found that flicking the switch to off for the copilot (preview) in the personalization of the taskbar has fixed the problem for me.
Griffins Bakhuya 0 Reputation points

2023-12-01T05:52:23.7533333+00:00

This really helped , didn't know it was that simple,Thank you
Christopher Allen 0 Reputation points

2024-02-07T19:57:59.67+00:00

This is a new HP OMEN laptop which worked great until 15 minutes ago when the Start Bar Search function stopped working, it flashes on screen when you try to access it then disappears. Your recommendation is not helpful as there is no "Update and Security" tab. There is a "Privacy and Security" tab which does not have a "Troubleshoot" in the menu. The "Update" tab is also missing any "Troubleshoot" in the menu. Perhaps I am missing something??
Sterling Davis 0 Reputation points

2024-02-13T01:21:07.43+00:00

Its the little icons that Microsoft is putting in the search bar.
Follow these instructions: https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-search-remove-pictures/ or change the search box to "search icon and label" in the taskbar settings
Aditya Suherman 5 Reputation points

2024-02-25T14:54:25.4933333+00:00

Go to Settings > Personalization > Now change the Search to something other than Search Box
Matt Anderson 0 Reputation points

2024-03-12T13:43:42.0833333+00:00

I was able to restore Search bar function by going to Taskbar settings - personalization and toggling off the Copilot (preview) then restarting the computer. The search bar is now working. Hope this helps!
Phasit Ammatakatanyu 0 Reputation points

2024-04-19T12:16:41.1466667+00:00

i updated my bios and the search bar is usable again. im on a hp laptop so i dont know if it would work for you but try updating your bios or roll back to the previous version maybe it will work
Phasit Ammatakatanyu 0 Reputation points

2024-04-25T07:48:02.44+00:00

try restarting ur file explorer in task manager. mine works after restarting file explorer
TokerX 0 Reputation points

2024-05-25T12:51:09.8366667+00:00

Ofc it's a bug, like so many other things in explorer, and of course they will give you useless troubleshooting information. Anyway, try f5 or going out of the folder and back in again, that generally does the trick for me.
JJK 0 Reputation points

2024-08-01T23:35:39.3366667+00:00

Just go into task manager and restart the windows explorer its what worked for me

18 answers

Daniel Olaleye 15 Reputation points

2024-01-26T14:07:28.77+00:00

None of these work . I have work to do an d should not be spending most of my day looking for fixes to a problem introduced.
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3 people found this answer helpful.
Derek Dillon 5 Reputation points

2024-01-27T07:11:56.19+00:00

none of my search bars are working in windows 11 , it happened 3 days ago, i dont think i updated or added any programs that would cause this/. idk what to do

iFIX LV 0 Reputation points

2024-02-01T22:49:34.7966667+00:00

Turn off any non-defender antivirus programs or uninstall

go to accounts -other users -add an account "without users info" local account call it anything and make suere to change the type to administrator

restart computer and log into new account

does search bar do same thing? If no then your profile has some corruption so move all your info to new account. if yes then you can keep searching aimlessly for a fix and hope one works or back up your data and reinstall Win 11.

For the more tech savy, go to system32 and find searchindexer.exe and check for any rogue long #'d sid's and remove. the troubleshooting for permissions fix is useless.

run a sfc /scannow (I know this never works) but theres always a first time:) run an offline checkdisk and a dism repair. Always reboot.

rebuild index after reboot.

Don't waste too much time trying to solve the issue and embrace the concept of reinstalls. It fixes most of the problems and now takes half the time compared to Win 7,8,10.

Martin S 0 Reputation points

2024-06-08T23:33:18.61+00:00

bullshit. when u have tons more software running in windows it takes a long time to do reinstall
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Nilo River 95 Reputation points

2024-03-27T15:56:12+00:00

This bug is ridiculous. The start menu exists since 1995 and Microsoft can't solve a bug related to the basic feature of showing the menu properly.

All the troubleshoots presented here are from people who don't understand what they are talking about. Clearly this is an architectural bug. There will be no point in ending and restarting processes and services until the problem is resolved at the source.
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3 people found this answer helpful.

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brandon elder 10 Reputation points

2024-04-21T23:58:16.4766667+00:00
Hey folks,

This worked for me. Run these commands in order in command prompt. Make sure you right click and "run as admin"

To get to command prompt in windows 11 without the search option:

1.Click on the windows icon in on the left of the search bar.

2.Click on the " all apps" button

Scroll down the W in the list and click "Windows Tools"

Find "command prompt" - Right click-Run as admin

sfc /scannow

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Reboot.
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2 people found this answer helpful.
Simon Hunter 0 Reputation points

2024-06-05T09:50:09.47+00:00

Had the same problem, startbutton and search quite unresponsive, this fixed it. Thanks.

Martin S 0 Reputation points

2024-06-08T23:43:36.6966667+00:00

doesn't work for me. ctr-f does nothing. search box is gone
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Aditya Suherman 5 Reputation points

2024-02-25T14:57:16.5633333+00:00

Go to Settings > Personalization > Now change the Search to something other than Search Box
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Richard Grisack 0 Reputation points

2024-03-02T20:43:15.0166667+00:00

This works! Thanks!

Ivan Murzak 0 Reputation points

2024-03-27T23:40:05.99+00:00

Are you both real humans or bots? That what you are saying has no sense and won't work. I even tried that. Of course, it doesn't work.

It feels like Microsoft just spamming here by using bots to show like "everything is not as bad". But it is really bad.

Martin S 0 Reputation points

2024-06-08T23:45:09.7633333+00:00

there is no "search" option there

Aditya Suherman 5 Reputation points

2024-08-08T03:55:16.0133333+00:00

I'm human bro, not bot. I'm Indonesian. I use Google Translate
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Nilo River 95 Reputation points

2024-03-08T23:50:41.4866667+00:00

Windows without a working start menu is like a car without keys. What a shame Microsoft
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My windows search bar on windows 11 isn't working

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