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You may even be unable to find basic apps in File Explorer search, such as Calculator or Microsoft Word. It's frustrating for users to manually locate all files and folders while the search function is not working. The main reason could be an issue with Indexing or a corrupted index database, or simply that the search service is not running. Whatever the reason, you can apply some troubleshooting methods as follows:
How to fix File Explorer Not Working search error on Windows 10
1. Change Search Index.
2. Ensure Windows Search service is running.
3. End Cortana process.
4. Add file access permissions.
5. Troubleshoot Search and Indexing issues.
Fixing File Explorer search not working on Win 10
1. Change Search Index
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog. Then enter the following code and press OK: rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL srchadmin.dll
- Click on Advanced.
- Select the File Types > Index Properties and File Contents tab.
- Click OK and then OK again to confirm.
2. Ensure Windows Search service is running
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog. Then, type services.msc and click OK.
- Look for Windows Search item, right-click on it, and select Properties.
- In the Startup Type section, select Automatic.
- Ensure the service is running. If not, click the Start button in the Service status section.
3. End Cortana process
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
- Search for Cortana and right-click on it. Then select End task to restart the Cortana process and resolve the issue.
4. Add file access permissions
If the File Explorer search error is not working with a specific folder, you may not have permission to access that folder. To add permission, do the following:
- Right-click on that folder and select Properties.
- Click on the Security tab.
- If you don't see the System entry in the group or user names list, click on Edit.
- Click on Add and type system into the text box. Then, click on Check names.
- Click OK and close all open windows.
5. Troubleshoot Search and Indexing issues
- Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows + R and enter Control Panel. Click OK to open the Control Panel window.
- Choose Large icons in View by and click on Troubleshooting.
- Select View all from the right-hand menu.
- Look for Search and Indexing and click on it.
- Select Files Don't appear in search results.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
File Search is a useful feature, it's a way to quickly search for files on Windows 10, allowing users to quickly find almost anything on their computer such as documents, photos, videos, system files, apps, or installations. If one day, this feature suddenly stops working, you can apply the methods shared here to fix the issue. Also, check out the list of File Explorer shortcuts on Windows 10 here.
