For some users, it is customary to open certain Windows applications directly from the search option in Windows 10. You tend to open programs by pressing Start and then the search box, such as Microsoft Office and Calculator .
But recently, in light of many people’s reports, the Windows 10 start menu search not working it is a common phenomenon, even the Calculator cannot be opened with the search option.
This Windows search may not find any programs, especially after the Creators Update or a clean install of Windows 10.
How to fix Windows 10 Start Menu Search not working?
Even a reboot is useless. You stumble upon taskbar search without picking up apps or desktop files for no reason.
Now there are many steps you can take to resolve this search option not working, such as deleting a related registry key and exiting file explorer.
Also, as some of you suggested, a privacy setting called Allow apps to run in the background is also responsible for the Windows 10 search not working error.
You can also try these ways until you are unable to find apps through Windows 10 Start menu search.
Solution 1 – Stop Explorer in Windows 10
It is said that the fastest way to deal with Windows 10 search not working is to make changes in file explorer.
You can choose to exit the browser or manage to stop the browser process in the task manager.
Both can be useful for your search box not working.
Press ctrl + shift and double click the bar from chores for exit explorer .
Or if you found that the existing explorer cannot fix the search problem, you can also continue to stop the process of Windows Explorer in Task Manager.
In this way, you may be able to open files by searching the Windows 10 Start menu. After that, you can also try restarting the Explorer process in task manager.
Solution 2 – Delete the explorer key in Registry Editor
Normally, many of you would prefer not to remove explorer in Windows 10, if so, it is recommended that you are struggling to remove explorer folder key to check if it works to resolve Windows 10 apps not showing in Search .
Prepare to end that in the registry editor.
1. Press Windows + R to activate the box Run and then write regedit in the frame.
Finally do click on To accept to go to registry editor .
2 in Registry Editor navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Explorer FolderTypes {ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6} TopViews {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} .
3. Then right click on the folder {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} for delete it .
Judging from the reports of many users, removing this folder from top view can be quite useful for you to fix Windows 10 Start menu search not find any apps. That is why now you are supposed to use this way of searching which is not working on your PC.
Solution 3: Uninstall Cortana
Although it seems absurd, it has been proven effective to remove Cortana for a while to solve the Windows 10 Start menu search not working issue.
Since the Start Search option doesn’t find installed apps in Windows 10, if you search for PowerShell in the search box, nothing will happen. Therefore, you need to open Windows 10 Powershell from the Start menu.
1. Click with the button right in Start and then select Windows Powershell (administrator) of the list.
2 in Windows PowerShell copy and paste the following command, and then press enter to run this command.
Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”}
Once Cortana is removed, you can also try searching for an app, such as Microsoft Office or Calculator.
This time you’ll likely be qualified to show the apps through Search.
Solution 4 – Let apps run in the background
That is the option that is related to the unusable search option in the Windows 10 Start menu.
If you have disabled your PC to run apps in the background, you might get Windows 10 can’t find any apps error.
Under these circumstances, you need to enable this option in Windows 10.
1. Navigate to Start > Setting > Privacy .
2. Then in Applications on background activate the option Allow apps to run in the background .
You can also decide which apps can run in the background based on your taste.
At that time, the Windows 10 start search will be back to normal and you can easily find apps through the search box.
Solution 5: Change indexing options
As you can see from what that search does in Windows 10, now you’d better determine to make adjustments to the indexing options on your PC.
In this sense, you will not find Windows 10 search that does not locate installed applications or files if you have created an index for them.
1. Open the Dashboard .
2 in the Dashboard look for the indexing option in the search box and then press enter to find out.
That is to change how Windows searches.
3. Then in the window indexed location on local disk C check the box for Records from program (x86) .
Here maybe you shouldn’t open local drive C, you should go to the one that stores your program files.
If you clicked To accept it will take several minutes to take effect.
It is recommended to search for a program using the Start menu search, such as Calculator. It will rise as Windows 10 search not working is removed from your PC.
Above all, it should be your concern if your taskbar search option is not available and cannot help you find any apps, these ways in the thread will help you fix Windows 10 Start menu not picking up apps. applications effectively.