Causes of Windows 10 Search Problems
When Windows search isn’t working, it’s almost always a simple software problem. The system may just need a restart to get it working again. Other possible causes could be network-related or the search system itself having a service interruption. The search tool in Windows 10 has, with different feature updates of the operating system, both increased and decreased its integration with both Cortana and with File Explorer. These often-shifting changes to how search works leads to glitches—some of which present an easy fix.
How to Fix Windows 10 Search Problems
You’ll use a lot of the same methods to fix problems with search as other minor errors. Here are some options to try and get the system back to work. Open the troubleshooter by opening the Start menu and going to Settings > Update and Security > Troubleshoot > Search and Indexing. Click the Run the troubleshooter button to go through the diagnostics. Press Win+R to open the Run window, then type “Services.msc” and press Enter. When the Services window appears, scroll down the list of services to find Windows Search. If it’s already running, right-click it or tap and hold, then select Restart. Alternatively, if it’s disabled or has a blank Status, right-click or tap and hold, then select Start. Select Indexing Options from the main menu icons, and then click Advanced. In the Advanced options, Click Rebuild.
