How to Fix Windows 11 When the Start Menu Search Bar Returns No Results

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to Fix Windows 11 When the Start Menu Search Bar Returns No Results. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

If your Windows 11 Start Menu search bar is not returning any results for apps, files, or settings, it is usually caused by a corrupted search index or a temporary glitch in the Windows Search service. This guide will walk you through the steps to restore search functionality on your device.

Restart the Windows Search Service

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
3. In the Services list, locate Windows Search.
4. Right-click Windows Search and select Restart.
5. If Restart is greyed out, right-click the service, select Properties, set the Startup type to Automatic, and click Start.
6. Test the Start Menu search bar.

Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Find Search and Indexing in the list.
4. Click Run and follow the on-screen prompts to detect and fix issues.

Rebuild the Search Index

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Privacy & security > Searching Windows.
3. Under Related settings, click Search indexer settings.
4. In the Indexing Options window, click Advanced.
5. Under the Index Settings tab, click Rebuild.
6. Click OK and wait for the indexing process to complete. This may take some time depending on the number of files on your drive.

Check for Corrupt System Files

If search still fails, system files may be corrupted.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
   sfc /scannow
3. Wait for the scan to finish. If it finds and repairs corrupt files, restart your computer.

If you have followed all these steps and the Start Menu search bar still returns no results, please Open a Ticket with our Brisbane support team for further assistance.

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