Windows 10 and 11 features a search bar with Cortana integrated right into it for voice search. But many users find that they can’t type in Windows 10/11 search bar when they click on it. The reasons for Search bar error include a glitched service or process, corrupt Cortana installation, and search index corruption. If you face the same issue, try these fixes to resolve the issue and get the search feature working again.
Table of Contents
1. Restart Windows Explorer and Cortana Processes
Windows Explorer and Cortana are two crucial processes required by the search feature to work properly. If the search is acting up, you must restart these two processes using Task Manager.
1. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys at once to open Task Manager.
2. Locate the Windows Explorer process in the list and right-click on it. Select the Restart option from the context menu.
3. Now, find the Cortana process in the list and right-click on it. Select the End Task option.
4. Close the Task Manager.
5. Press the Windows key + C to open Cortana.
2. Configure the Windows Search Service
Windows Search service not running due to a glitch or being disabled could be another reason why you can’t type in the Windows search bar. Here’s how to tweak the service:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type Services and press Enter.
2. Locate the Windows Search service and right-click on it. Select the Restart option.
3. Close the Services window.
3. Try Search and Indexing Troubleshooter
Windows offers multiple troubleshooters to diagnose and fix operating system features. You can use the Windows Search and Indexing troubleshooter to find the problems with the search bar.
1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app. Navigate to Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
2. Find the Search and Indexing troubleshooter and click on the Run button.
3. Select the Can’t start a search and see results checkbox. Click on Next.
4. Wait for the utility to find and fix issues with the search. Close the troubleshooter window.
4. Rebuild Search Index
An outdated and corrupt search index can result in incorrect or slow search results. Since this feature is related to the search bar, you must rebuild the index manually.
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type control /name Microsoft.IndexingOptions and press Enter.
2. In the Indexing options window, click on the Advanced button.
3. Go to the Troubleshoot section. Click on the Rebuild button next to the Delete and rebuild index option.
4. You will see a popup window. Click on the OK button.
It will take some time to rebuild the index. But you can use your computer while the process completes.
5. Manually Run the CTFMON Process
The CTFMON process manages all the voice and textual input on Windows. If the process is not running, you will be unable to type anything in the Windows search bar. Here’s how to run it manually:
1. Press the Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog box. Type ctfmon.exe and press Enter.
You won’t see any pop-up messages. It will just start the ctfmon utility in the background.
6. Run SFC and DISM Scan
SFC and DISM are inbuilt system tools that can help you fix system file corruption and replace them and also service the component store of Windows. You must run these scans one by one and have internet access. Repeat the following steps:
1. Open Command Prompt with administrator privileges on your PC.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth3. After that, type the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannowThese two scans will take a long time to complete.
7. Re-Register System Apps
If the search bar or any other system app isn’t working properly, you can register all system apps in one go with a PowerShell command. It will remove and then add all the system apps on your PC. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog box. Type powershell and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys.
2. User Account Control will pop up. Click on the Yes button.
3. Type the following command and press Enter to execute it:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like "SystemApps"} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
4. Close the PowerShell window.
8. Reinstall Cortana
Still can’t type in the Windows Search bar? Many users uninstalled Cortana which enabled them to type into the Windows Search bar again. That’s because Cortana and Search are integrated. You cannot uninstall Cortana using the Settings app, so you must use a PowerShell command instead.
1. Open PowerShell with admin privileges as you did in the previous step.
2. Type the following command and press Enter to execute it:
Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
3. Close the PowerShell window. Restart your PC and check if the search bar works now.
9. Use System Restore
If all the above methods ended in despair, you can use System Restore to revert to the last known good configuration. This way, you can avoid resetting your Windows PC.
1. Open the Run dialog box, type rstrui.exe, and press Enter.
2. Click on the Next button. Select an appropriate restore point and then follow the on-screen instructions to apply the restore point.
3. Your PC will restart to apply the changes.
10. Try PowerToys
If you are still unable to type in the Windows Search bar, simply install a new and more powerful one.
PowerToys is a free Microsoft app that is also open-sourced. It will supercharge your Windows computer with a number of features including a powerful and universal search bar. Other features include extracting text from anywhere on the fly, finding where the mouse pointer is on the screen, and batch renaming multiple files in one go.
Make Search Bar Work Again
Search is a crucial feature. It cripples your productivity when you can’t type in Windows 10/11 search bar. Begin by restarting the Windows Explorer and Search service. After that run the Search and Index troubleshooter and rebuild the search index. Lastly, re-register system apps, reinstall Cortana, or use System Restore.
Did you know you can now set your Windows Search to Google Search? Try it for it’s fun and productive too.
