Windows 10 Search Not Finding Files is a very common issue. But don’t worry as we have 5 Ways to Fix Windows 10 Search Not Finding Files. After following one of these ways, you will be able to overcome this problem.
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To find and open the desired file on your system, the alternative that everyone goes for is the search bar. Windows 10 has made the search more accessible via the use of Cortana. It seems so relaxing and less time to take the job when you don’t need to navigate deeper inside folders and subfolders.
At times, the search bar fails to find the stuff you requested, which leads to a Windows 10 Search Not Working issue. There are lots of complaints against it. It becomes cumbersome for the users and results in frustration many times. You cannot say precisely the exact reason behind this problem, but there are various fixes available.
Table of Contents
How to Fix Windows 10 Search Not Finding Files
So your worries and trouble end here. If you are one of the sufferers of the problem mentioned above, then cheer yourself up for reaching a suitable place. The issue of Windows 10 Search Not Finding Files can be fixed with numeral solutions and methods if followed step by step. There’s also a fix on our website in case you’re getting the Windows 10 Search Not Working Error.
Method 1: Killing Cortana from the Task Manager
In Windows 10, Cortana facilitates easy searches, but sometimes it denies doing the work demanded by the user. For this, the trick can be killing the Cortana from the Task Manager. You can also find the fix on our website in case you’re seeing the Taskbar Frozen Error.
Coming back to the method, the steps are lined below:
- At First, Right-click on the Start button.
- Then click on the Task Manager.
- Navigate down for Cortana.
- Then, select it and click on End Task.
Probably killing the task can help you fix Windows 10 Search Not Finding Files issue. This can also happen due to full CPU usage. So, you can then fix the Windows 10 100% Disk Usage in Task Manager.
Note: – After ending the Cortana, it will automatically Restart.
Finally, the shortcut key for opening Task Manager – Ctrl +Shift+Esc.
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Method 2: Use of Windows Troubleshooter
If the matter does not resolve, go ahead with Troubleshooter. It will automatically solve the problem at its end. The steps are simple and more comfortable to execute.
- At First, Press the Window logo +R shortcut to open the Run window.
- Then type Control Panel on the text field to open the same and hit Enter.
- From the available options, click on Troubleshooting.
- Then click on System and Security.
- Right-click on Search and Indexing and Run As Administrator.
- To start the Troubleshooter, press Next.
- From the possible problems stated in the opened window, then check on the item you encounter within the process.
- Here, there is a check on items. Files don’t appear in search results.
- Click Next.
- Later the Troubleshooter will identify the issue and fix the problem.
It can be a useful solution to Windows 10 Search Bar Not Working problem.
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Method 3: Restart Windows Search Service
The searches in Windows 10 are powered by Windows Search. At the startup time, the system might fail to launch Windows Search successfully. Possibly, the error can be stuck here. The steps to restart Windows Search are as follows.
- At First, Press the Windows logo+ R to open the Run Window.
- Then type services.msc and hit Enter.
- Find for Windows Search on the opened panel.
- Then double-click on it to open.
- Then check for Services Status which needs to be in running mode.
- If the status is not set to running, click on Start to run the service.
- Then, check for the startup type of the Service.set it to Automatic if not so.
- Apply the changes made and click OK.
- Finally, right-click Windows Search again and click Restart. It may also be due to a Windows Hard Disk Problem. But, this is one of the fixes that you can apply to solve the windows search not working error.
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Method 4: Restart Windows Explorer
One of the fixes to the problem is restarting Windows Explorer. The steps are given below.
- At First, Open the Task Manager as stated in Method 1.
- Locate for Windows Explorer and then Right Click on the same.
- Then click Restart.
- If the problem does not solve and Windows Search Not Finding Files issue persists look forward to other methods as well.
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Method 5: Register Cortana Again
This technique can find a bit tedious. If the problem of Windows 10 Bar Not Working or Finding Files is caused due to a corrupted version of Cortana, then the last help that can be rendered is by Registering Cortana again. One needs to run the below-written command, but remember to keep the backup of the System Partitions. This method registers all Windows Apps again along with Cortana.
You Might Be Facing This: Start Menu and Cortana Aren’t Working Error
There is a set of steps to follow and to register Cortana again. It makes use of PowerShell.
- At First, Open the folder C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0 in File Explorer.
- Navigate to Powershell.exe file.
- Then Right Click on the entry and Run As Administrator.
- Finally, Run the command Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| For each {Add-AppxPackage – DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

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Conclusion
There are varieties of problems that a user might face. Windows 10 Search Not Finding Files is one of them. I hope you are free from any problems now. If still the hurdle pertains, you can switch to a different Search Tool.
These tools provide the third party but are useful in making all desired Searches. Classic Shell 4.2.7 gives an appropriate alternative. This program changes the Start menu of your Windows 10 to the one resembling the Windows 7 Start menu provided with a search bar. Other options that you can adopt are using Everything or UltraSearch third-party tools for executing the searches.

Gravit Sinha: Founder of ValidEdge, a problem-solving website, driven by his lifelong passion for fixing issues.