Windows 10: Start menu search not finding applications?

That is just how it works at the moment. I have the same on clean install.

I opened a thread here Program files (.exe) not found by Windows Search - Windows 10 Forums but it went nowhere (except finding it is a general issue). It is pretty absurd that search filters out .exe (even if they are in the index) but it does. You can still search using the File explorer or the old Windows 8 style fly-out search but not the new search.

You can add the shortcuts you want to start (as you said) but this still reduces the usefulness of the search somewhat as you had to know and remember to add one in the first place.

There are lots of complaints on the Feedback app - you could add a "me too".

 

Ah right. I do see in that directory a shortcut called "Search" that pops open a rt-hand-side search that DOES work. I'm assuming that's the "old" Windows 8 search you're talking about. Cool, I'll just stick that into the taskbar. THANKS.

 

Yes that is it - which proves it is in the index. The Win 10 Search excludes it by design.

Add a +1 (or "me too" or whatever) on the Microsoft Feedback app to all the similar complaints as the current behavior really is worse than it was in previous versions.

 

Oops that doesn't work, since the shortcut seems to go away between sessions.
I've added an AutoHotkey to launch it instead.

 

Another update: Days later now "Movie Maker" shows up in "All apps" as well as comes up in Win10 search as well as shows up in "Recently added".

"Photo Gallery" still does not even though it was part of the same Windows Live Essentials install.

I don't have any conclusions to draw from this, just thought I'd update the thread with more info.

 

Another clue: I recently downloaded and updated an old program that gave a new icon. The new one shows up in the following directory along with the old one. The OLD (now invalid) one still shows up in "All apps" and in Win10 search, while the NEW one does not show up in either.

C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Games\<GAME NAME DIRECTORY>

Note that the above directory is different than the one mentioned before.

(C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs)

 

Hmm, here's another potential clue. Just got this pop-up last night. (But when I went to check the Service it appeared to be running.)

 

Okay I bit the bullet and did a clean install of Windows 10 from media. Everything works as intended now.
Even .pdf files on different (other than c:\) drives are immediately found.

 

Guys,

did you find the solution for this?
One year and Microsoft has not yet patched this?
I'm experiencing this on a fresh installation (made it two days ago) and I've always experienced it. Once I reach a certain number of shortcuts (possibly 256?) I stop seeing the new shortcuts in the windows search.

I've disabled cortana from the registry already.

 

Hmmmm. This issue was fixed long ago.
I have no such issues with the new builds.

 

No it was not. You still (on 1607 Anniversary Edition) need to make a shortcut or search for .exe that are not installed and/or do not have associated shortcuts in another way.

You can easily test it - make an empty document in notepad and save it once to your desktop as TEST.exe and once as TEST.txt.

Press the *Start key, type TEST and you only see the TEST.txt

I think @Mystere may have had it correct here

Program files (.exe) not found by Windows Search - Page 4 - Windows 10 Forums

It is annoying for me as I use portable apps a lot (to save re-installing I just stick them all in my OneDrive) but long ago make a powershell script to create the required shortcuts so search would find them.

It certainly isn't "fixed" though and was better in Windows 8 (at least I think it was).

 

I also have this problem since 3 months