The search box has disappeared from my taskbar

Question

My laptop was working perfectly last night but this morning the search box on my taskbar has disappeared and I now have to go through Edge to access the internet.

Answer 1

If the search box has disappeared from your taskbar, it may be due to a configuration setting. You can try the following steps to restore it:

1. Check Taskbar Settings: Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Look for the option related to the search box and ensure it is set to display.
2. Group Policy Settings: If you are in a managed environment, check if a Group Policy setting is hiding the search box. You can do this by navigating to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar and ensuring that the policy Hide the notification area is not enabled.
3. Restart Windows Explorer: Sometimes, simply restarting Windows Explorer can resolve taskbar issues. You can do this through the Task Manager by finding Windows Explorer, right-clicking it, and selecting Restart.
4. Check for Updates: Ensure your Windows is up to date, as updates can fix bugs that may cause issues with the taskbar.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to consider further troubleshooting or checking for any recent changes that might have affected your taskbar settings.

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References:

• Fix problems in Windows Search
• Policy CSP - Search