One of the common issues that Windows 10 users face is the search bar not working. This can be quite frustrating as it hampers the ability to quickly find files, applications, and settings. Usually, restarting your device does the trick but if not, there are a couple of methods you can try to fix Windows 10 search bar not working.
Method 1: Check for Windows Update
1. Click on the Start menu (Windows icon) and select the Settings gear icon or press Windows key + I.
2. In the Settings window, click on "Update & Security."
3. Select "Windows Update" from the left sidebar> Click on "Check for updates"> If updates are available, install them and restart your computer.
Method 2: Restart Windows Explorer
1. Press 'Ctrl + Shift + Esc' to open Task Manager.
2. Click on the "Services" tab in Task Manager.
3. Find the "Windows Explorer" service> Right-click and select "Restart."
Method 3: Use the Windows Troubleshooter
1. Click on the Start menu and select the Settings gear icon or press the 'Windows key + I.'
2. Go to "Update & Security" and then click on "Troubleshoot" from the left sidebar.
2. Click on "Additional troubleshooter"> Select "Search and Indexing"> Click "Run the troubleshooter" and follow the on-screen instructions.
Method 4: Perform a Clean Boot
1. Press the 'Windows key + R.'
2. Type 'msconfig' in the search bar> Press "Enter."
3. In the System Configuration window, go to the "Services" tab.
4. Check the box for "Hide all Microsoft services"> Click "Disable all."
5. Go to the "Startup" tab in the System Configuration window> Click "Open Task Manager."
6. In Task Manager, disable all startup items and close Task Manager.
7. Click "OK" in the System Configuration window and restart your computer.
8. Once restarted, check if the search bar is working. If it is, you can gradually re-enable services and startup items to identify what was causing the issue.
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