How to fix the Start Menu Search function (Windows 10)?

Question

My device's Start Menu Search function has not been working for almost a month now. I've been searching for solutions, I have tried:

• Updating
• Restarting
• Ending Windows Explorer's task in Task Manager
• Ending SearchApp.exe's task in Task Manager
• Reinstalling the Start Menu
• Uninstalling a certain Windows update
• Enabling background applications
• Rebuilding the index multiple times
• Running the Windows Troubleshooter (it found the problem, it said that it fixed the problem but it did not fix anything)
• Using the System File Checker
• Updating my antivirus application
• Starting Windows Search's startup type to "automatic" in services

Doing all of these have not fixed the feature.

This feature has made me work more efficiently, so help would be greatly appreciated.

(3/14/22)
I have just discovered that the clipboard for copying and pasting does not work too.

Answer 1

Options for the start menu include:

a) Restart the start menu:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/133178-restart-start-menu-windows-10-a.html

b) Reregistering the start menu:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/96018-re-register-start-menu-windows-10-a.html

The computer appears to have 21h2.

The earlier steps in this thread were not able to identify and fix the underlying problems with the Windows installation.

An in place upgrade repair can be performed. (Drivers and applications do not need to be reinstalled.)

It often fixes operating system problems. On occasion it may fix registry problems.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/16397-repair-install-windows-10-place-upgrade.html

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9230-download-windows-10-iso-file.html

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Options to fix the underling problems include: (all of these require the reinstallation of drivers and applications)

a) Windows refresh:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4090-refresh-windows-10-a.html

b) Reset save files:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4130-reset-windows-10-a.html

c) Custom install:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/120352-custom-install-windows-10-a.html

d) Clean install:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

In summary, an in place upgrade repair can be performed with expectations that it has a very small chance of fixing registry problems.

A definitive fix is a Windows refresh as it is designed to maintain files and install a new version of Windows.

Drivers and applications need to be reinstalled.

.
.
.
.
.

Please remember to vote and to mark the replies as answers if they help.

On the bottom of each post there is:

Propose as answer = answered the question

On the left side of each post there is /\ with a number: click = a helpful post
.
.
.
.
.

Answer 2

Some steps that were reported may be repeated so that there are commands with results viewable in this thread.

Open administrative command prompt and copy and paste:

sfc /scannow
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
findstr /c:"[sr]" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >"%userprofile%\desktop\sfcdetails.txt"
msdt.exe -id SearchDiagnostic
msdt.exe -id WindowsUpdateDiagnostic
net user test03142022 /add

Post images or share links displaying the commands with results into this thread.

For each Microsoft Windows troubleshooter click "view detailed information" > post images or share links into this thread.

For share links please use one drive, drop box, or google drive.

Find the new text file on the desktop and post a share link into this thread.

Open administrative powershell (PS) and type or copy and paste:

get-computerrestorepoint

Post an image or share link of the command with results into this thread.

Reboot and sign on with the new user named test03142022

Test the start menu and search with the new user and report results into this thread.

.
.
.
.
.

Please remember to vote and to mark the replies as answers if they help.

On the bottom of each post there is:

Propose as answer = answered the question

On the left side of each post there is /\ with a number: click = a helpful post
.
.
.
.
.

Answer 3

Hi,

Could you please clarify more about your issue?

Can you see the search bar? If search bar is visiable, can you type in the search bar? How about the Cortana?

Have you tried to reset Windows Searh and how about the result?

You can follow the steps in below article to reset Windows Search.

Reset Windows Search

Best regards,

----------

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it. Thanks.

Answer 4

In my case, I'm able to type in search box but then it stucks with a loading bar. Never find anything.
And it seems to be related to windows account login. I've tried to disable it inside Settings -> Privacy & security -> Search permissions
Then turn Microsoft account -> Off
Now it works again.

Answer 5

Hi guys,

Hope you can help.

We have multiple windows servers with this issue and already tried a lot but nothing worked.

Our problem is that the search bar and the windows button is not functioning, all the other features on the task bar are working.