Windows Search Box in Taskbar not working

Question

Windows Search Box in Taskbar not working

Turner, Jamie L 25

The windows search box/taskbar search is not working on EliteBook - new laptop. What I have tried so far:

restart computer - did not work

Windows key + R→services.msc - startup type auto → did not work.

Ctrl+Shift+Esc→task Manager→ could not find SearchHost - went through everything that had "Search" in it, tried to restart search exe's → did not work.

Help - thanks!

Jeremy 0 Reputation points

2026-04-07T01:20:14.1833333+00:00

I just want to chime in. I am suddenly having the exact same problem.

In Windows 11, there is a search bar at the top of the start menu. When I click to try to type a search into the box, the start menu simply closes down.

The same exact thing happens with the standalone Search feature to the right of the start menu.

This was not happening earlier today or yesterday.

Answer accepted by question author

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Jeremy 0 Reputation points

2026-04-07T01:20:14.1833333+00:00

I just want to chime in. I am suddenly having the exact same problem.

In Windows 11, there is a search bar at the top of the start menu. When I click to try to type a search into the box, the start menu simply closes down.

The same exact thing happens with the standalone Search feature to the right of the start menu.

This was not happening earlier today or yesterday.

Answer 1

Yaj Maverick Soriano 235 Independent Advisor

Hi there,

Thank you for posting this.

I understand how troublesome this is on a new EliteBook, especially since you already tried restarting services and checking Task Manager; based on Microsoft’s official guidance, the next proper steps are to run the built‑in Search and Indexing troubleshooter (run msdt.exe -ep WindowsHelp id SearchDiagnostic), restart Windows Explorer and the Windows Search process (SearchHost.exe) if it exists, install all pending Windows Updates, and if the search component is missing or corrupted, reset Windows Search using Microsoft’s official PowerShell reset script, which fully rebuilds the search components without affecting files.

Please use the following links for additional guidance and information:

Fix problems in Windows Search
Reset Windows Search PowerShell script

If you found this information helpful, please select “Accept Answer” and consider giving it an upvote. If you have any follow‑up questions, feel free to use the “Comment” option.

Best regards,

Yaj S.

Turner, Jamie L 25 Reputation points

2026-04-07T00:56:20.78+00:00
Solution 1: Restart Windows Font Cache Service

Sometimes, you can resolve Windows Search issues by restarting Windows Font Cache Service. To do this, follow these steps:

In the search box on the taskbar, - The search box does not work, I cannot use this solution.

Updates - there are no pending updates.

Task manager: SearchHost.exe is suspended. Searchindexer.exe running. There is no SearchUI.exe under Details.

SearchHost.exe is suspended - so I end task, restart - now is running, but search bar still does not work.

For this one:

Note You must have administrator permissions to run this script.

Click the Download button and save ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1 to a local folder.

Right-click the file that you saved, and select Run with PowerShell.

Black screen pops up, then disappears, nothing more happens, cannot follow rest of instructions, did not work.
Turner, Jamie L 25 Reputation points

2026-04-07T00:58:43.8733333+00:00
Note You must have administrator permissions to run this script.

Click the Download button and save ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1 to a local folder.

Right-click the file that you saved, and select Run with PowerShell.

Black screen pops up, then disappears, nothing more happens, cannot follow rest of instructions, did not work.
Yaj Maverick Soriano 235 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-07T01:02:42.16+00:00

I appreciate your findings (no taskbar input, SearchHost.exe previously suspended, no updates), Microsoft documents that the most reliable next step is to run the Search troubleshooter directly via command (msdt.exe -ep WindowsHelp id SearchDiagnostic) and then fully reset Windows Search using the official ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1 PowerShell script, which rebuilds corrupted search components even when the UI is unusable.
Turner, Jamie L 25 Reputation points

2026-04-07T01:06:33.0566667+00:00

ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1 PowerShell script,

Black screen pops up, then disappears, nothing more happens, cannot follow rest of instructions?
Yaj Maverick Soriano 235 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-07T16:26:30.41+00:00

Thank you for that Turner. Based on this behavior (SearchHost.exe repeatedly suspending, msdt requiring a support key, and the reset script closing instantly), Microsoft notes this usually indicates corrupted search app registration or system files, and the highest‑success fix is to re‑register Windows Search using an elevated PowerShell session opened from Windows Terminal (Admin) and, if it still suspends, run sfc /scannow followed by DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, as these specifically repair broken system components when Search cannot initialize on new devices.

You can use the following links for refereneces to what I said:
Fix problems in Windows Search

Reset Windows Search PowerShell script
Turner, Jamie L 25 Reputation points

2026-04-08T20:22:08.0566667+00:00

It is somehow working again today - not sure which of the 100 things I tried worked, but woo hoo! Thanks for all the tips.
Yaj Maverick Soriano 235 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-08T20:30:47.73+00:00

Thank you I really appreciate it and I'm glad that it's working already.

Give back to the Community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if this reply solved your problem. Click Yes or No below.

Best regards,

Yaj S.

Answer 2

Turner, Jamie L 25

msdt.exe → it is asking for passkey provided by support professional? Reset Windows Search PowerShell script → I downloaded file, right click etc. black screen pops up then disappears, also cannot get to work.

Turner, Jamie L 25 Reputation points

2026-04-07T01:47:57.0166667+00:00

End task - it restarts - then suspended again :(

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Windows Search Box in Taskbar not working

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