Windows 10: Windows Search no longer working

I cannot do a Windows Search either from the Search icon on the taskbar or from the top of the Start menu. When I start typing search text, the search box just locks up and then the screen disappears. I have tried re-indexing, using the Search troubleshooter, rebooting, etc. Nothing has worked. This problem also is present in File Explorer, the searching there doesn't work either it just locks up. I just updated Windows 11 to build 22000.376, but I am not sure if that caused the problem or not.

:)

 

File folder search function no longer works

I suggest you remove your cloud drive from the equation until it's clear indexing is working on your internal drive. Were you trying to use Windows search indexing to find things only in cloud storage? Items indexed should be as per your Indexing Options. I've certainly never tried using it to index something in cloud storage. Unless that appears as a drive letter you wont be able to specify it in Indexed locations.

Note this discussion about indexing Onedrive as an example:
OneDrive indexing for WIndows Search – Feature Suggestions for Microsoft OneDrive
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...3-88984b798fce

But here Dropbox is reported as being indexed:
OneDrive Personal does not show up in Indexing Options after moving to C:/OneDrive in Windows 10 - Super User

Does that mean searching indexed locations on your internal drive works?

Otherwise:
Please check search indexing is working as per post #4.
Then try open explorer at an indexed folder and try searching for a file on your disk.

 

Edge Search Does Not Permit Change of Region


I got these suggestions from the Microsoft Community forum.No. 1 worked for me:

Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community. I am glad to assist you on this.
We have reproduce the issue here and we are able to access non-regional search for google using Microsoft Edge.
I would suggest you to try the below steps and check if it helps.
Step 1:
Clear browsing data option of Microsoft Edge and check if you face the issue. To do so perform the steps below.

1. Click on the More actions icon next to the feedback icon present on top right corner of the Project Spartan homepage.
2. Select Settings and click on Choose what to clear.
3. Check the boxes Browsing history, Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and files and click on Clear.

Step 2:
I suggest you to create a new user account and check if the issue occurs.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Choose Accounts and then select Family and other users.
3. Select add someone else on this PC.
4. Enter a user name and hit next.
5. Click on Finish.
6. Sign out from the current Account and Log into the new account.

Step 3:
It could also happen because of network issue. I suggest you to try with different network connection and check if it helps.

 

Windows 10 Start search no longer works

Many people are having this issue, and there's a lot of crazy suggestions out there. I've tried them all, and nothing worked until I did this:

• Delete the directory: C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy [REBOOT]
• Run the following command from Powershell with Admin privileges: Add-AppxPackage -Register "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\AppxManifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode [REBOOT]

For Step 1, you'll have to boot to a WinPE drive, or maybe Safe Mode because the directory will be locked. But, if you do these two steps in this order it will fix the problem.