Troubleshooting Windows 11 Search Issues: How to Get It Working Again

Step 1: Restart Your Computer

Often, a simple restart can solve the issue with the Search UI. This action refreshes your system and resets internal drivers. After restarting, check if the search function returns to normal.

Pro Tip: Regularly restart your computer to ensure smooth performance and update installations.

Step 2: Troubleshoot the Windows Start Menu

If the Search UI is still unresponsive, you should troubleshoot the Start Menu:

• Press Win + I to open Settings.
• Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
• Locate Search and Indexing and click on Run.
• Select the checkboxes related to the issues you’re facing and hit Next. Follow the prompts for automatic troubleshooting.

Step 3: Ensure the Search Service is Active

Confirm that the Windows Search service is running:

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit OK.
• In the Services window, scroll to find Windows Search.
• If the service is stopped, right-click it and select Start.

Step 4: Restart the Search Process

Restart processes related to Windows Search through Task Manager:

• Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
• Switch to the Details tab and locate SearchIndexer.exe.
• Right-click it and select End task. Repeat this for SearchUI.exe and SearchHost.exe.
• Wait a moment for the processes to restart automatically; otherwise, restart your PC.

Step 5: Rebuild the Windows Search Indexer

Rebuilding the Search Indexer may fix your issues:

• Open Control Panel and click on Indexing Options.
• In the advanced settings, navigate to the Index Settings tab.
• Click on Rebuild under the Troubleshooting section.

This may take some time. Restart your computer after the process completes.

Step 6: Modify Keyboard Language Settings

Conflicts with keyboard language settings can disrupt search functionality:

• Access Settings, go to Time & Language, and select Language.
• Uninstall any unnecessary language packs and reinstall them if necessary.

Reboot your device afterward.

Step 7: Utilize Automatic Repair Options

Let Windows automatically detect and solve issues:

• Go to Settings, then select System and Recovery.
• If prompted for Automatic Repair options, follow the on-screen recommendations.

Step 8: Use System Restore Points

If you’ve previously created a restore point, reverting to it might resolve the issue:

• Search for System Restore in the start menu, and follow the instructions to restore your system to the selected point.

Step 9: Uninstall and Reinstall Pending Windows Updates

Ensure that all Windows updates are functioning correctly:

• Check for updates in Settings under Windows Update.
• If any updates are pending, install them, or if issues ensue, consider uninstalling recent updates.

Step 10: Disable Third-Party Antivirus Software

Antivirus programs can conflict with system operations:

• Temporarily disable any third-party antivirus software and check if this resolves the Search UI issue.

What causes the Windows 11 Search UI to stop working?

Can I fix Windows Search without reinstalling Windows?