Some users cannot type anything into the search box, while the search button does not respond for some. Irrespective of the severity of the issue, this guide will walk you through the steps to fix it.

Why is the search not working in File Explorer?

Different factors can cause the Windows File Explorer search not working issue. Below are the well-known ones:

Broken search index: A broken or disabled search index can cause the search feature on your PC not to work. The easiest way to solve this is to rebuild the search index from the Control Panel. Disabled service: If the Windows Search service is disabled, it can also lead to problems in File Explorer. You must enable this service and restart your PC to get past this problem. Issues with Windows Explorer: Sometimes, Windows Explorer might not be working well because it ran into minor problems that can lead to this issue. Restarting it in the Task Manager should help fix the issue.

How can I fix Windows 11 File Explorer search if it’s not working?

1. Restart File Explorer

If the Windows 11 File Explorer search feature is not working, a quick solution is to restart it. This will clear up any glitch that can be causing it to malfunction.

2. Use PowerShell

Sometimes, you need to re-register Windows search to fix the Windows 11 File Explorer search feature. The quickest and most effective way to do this is to run the command above.

3. Rebuild the search index

If the search index is broken, there is a high chance the Windows 11 File Explorer search will not work. To be sure this is not the case, you need to rebuild the index, as shown above.

4. Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter

You need to wait for the troubleshooter to complete its diagnosis and apply any recommended fix. This should help you fix the Windows 11 File Explorer search not working issue if a system component causes it. SPONSORED

5. Restart the Windows Search service

The Windows Search service might not run or have encountered issues in some cases. This will cause problems with anything that has to do with search and could be why the Windows 11 File Explorer is not working. Restarting the service should eliminate any glitches with it. The Windows 11 File Explorer not working issue can be frustrating. However, it is not the most difficult issue to fix, as shown in this guide. If File Explorer frequently crashes on Windows 11, check our detailed guide for surefire ways to fix it. Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.

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