A fairly common problem can be called that when switching to Windows by updating an existing system or after a “clean” installation in Windows 10, the search does not work. In this regard, it becomes impossible to use most of the intellectual capabilities of the new operating system in terms of quick access to programs, access to some system settings, etc. However, as it turns out, the problem can be fixed by several methods, which are proposed for consideration. Immediately I want to warn ordinary users that the methodology for them may be somewhat complicated.
Why doesn't search work in Windows 10?
To begin with, the issue of the performance of the search engine itself can cause side effects. So, for example, you can meet situations when the “Search” button does not work in Windows 10, which is marked with a magnifying glass icon.
In most cases, it is generally accepted that the appearance of such situations is associated with constantly coming out service packs, which themselves were absolutely incomplete. However, the methodology for eliminating this problem does not mean that installed packages must be removed immediately, since many of them are more focused on updating the security system, which Microsoft is so "worried" about.
Using troubleshooting tools
So, we proceed from the fact that the search in Windows 10 does not work either in the Start menu, in Explorer, or in any other application. What to do first?
For starters, you should use the built-in tool to detect and fix many problems that arise. To do this, you need to call the standard "Control Panel" (and not the settings section) by entering the control command in the "Run" console. After switching to displaying items in the form of icons, you need to find the troubleshooting section and set it to view all categories.
After that, the search and indexing line is selected from the presented list, after which the failure detection process starts. If something is found, perhaps the system tools itself will fix the errors.
Windows 10 Start Search Does Not Work : Configuring Indexing Services
But suppose that the above tool did not reveal problems or could not be fixed. Even after that, a search in Windows 10 does not work under any pretext. In this case, you can try to fix the problem yourself.
To do this, call the services section (services.msc in the Run menu), find the Windows Search search service in the list, enter the parameter editing via the context menu or double-click, set it to “Automatic” in the startup type, and only after that click the button service start, if before that it was in a disconnected state.
If the search in Windows 10 does not work even after that, in the same “Control Panel” you need to use the indexing options section. In the options window, click the go to advanced settings button, and then click the Rebuild button in the troubleshooting section. The process may take quite a while, but you will have to wait.
After that, it remains only to call the "Task Manager" or the "Run" console and restart the explorer.exe process. By the way, this method is very well suited for troubleshooting search problems in the "Taskbar".
Registry keys
Almost the same actions can be performed in the system registry by calling the editor through the "Run" menu with the regedit command.
Here, in the HKLM branch, the SOFTWARE section, you need to find the Windows Search directory. The directory itself has the key SetupCompletedSuccesfuly. Through the PCM menu or double-click, we enter the editing and set the unit for it instead of zero.
In the same directory we find the FileChangeClientConfigs folder and rename it to FileChangeClientConfigsBak. Since the changes are saved automatically, it remains only to close the editor, reboot the system and check the operation of the search system.
What if the search fails again over time?
There are situations when, and after the above actions, the search engine may cease to function. It is not known for certain what exactly this is connected with, but a solution to solve the problem can be proposed.
In the “Control Panel” we again use the indexing parameters section, in the settings window clicks the “Change” button, and then in the options section we mark the places where the system should perform the so-called instant search.
Conclusion
As you can see, nothing particularly disastrous is that the search engine sometimes refuses to function as expected, no. The methodology for eliminating the problem is not so complicated as it might seem at first glance. But the most important thing in all of this is that packages of critical updates do not need to be removed, as well as various kinds of actions to be taken to fix the performance of the Update Center itself.
Virus exposure was not considered here, and the main attention was paid specifically to system settings, since the user must take care of the security of his system on his own.