If the Windows Search Bar or icon is not working on your Windows 11/10 PC then this post will help you resolve the issue. Some users have reported when they try to click it or insert text into the search box, nothing happens. Some say that the search box is missing. Some users also report that the search icon becomes too big after a new install. You can fix these annoying issues by following these suggestions.
Why is the Windows Search icon not working?
Search system glitches are the main cause of the Windows search icon not working. These are temporary issues that come after an update or restart. It can also be caused by taskbar settings and configuration. In rare cases, corrupt system files or malicious attacks can cause the problem.
Search Box or Icon not working in Windows 11
If the Windows search box or icon is not working, is too big, not responding, or it’s missing, use the following solutions to resolve the issue:
- Restart Explorer
- Run Search and Indexing troubleshooter
- Tweak Taskbar settings
- Check for Updates
- Restart Windows Search
- Scan system files
- Rebuild the Windows Search index
- Reset Windows Search
Let us delve into these solutions in detail.
1] Restart Explorer
Restarting the Explorer process on your PC can resolve temporary glitches that may have caused the Windows Explorer, Taskbar and the Search icon not to work.
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, then you can try the next methods in this post.
Read: Windows Search Bar or Icon is missing
2] Run Search and Indexing troubleshooter
You can use the Windows in-built Search troubleshooter to fix Windows search issues. The tool will find and fix the issues or suggest what you need to do. To run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter, perform the following steps;
- Open Windows Settings and go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
- Select Additional troubleshooters and then choose Search and Indexing.
- Click Run the troubleshooter and let the tool find issues automatically. Follow the on-screen directions to complete the process. This depends on what the tool will find.
You may also use Command Prompt to run the troubleshooter by copying and pasting the following command line and then pressing Enter;
msdt.exe -ep WindowsHelp id SearchDiagnostic
3] Tweak Taskbar settings
If the Windows 10 Search icon is too big, most probably it’s because you haven’t enabled the small taskbar icons.
Right-click on an empty space on the Taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Locate and toggle on the button next to Use small taskbar icons. For Windows 11 users, you may need to enable the search icon if it’s missing. Open the Settings app and go to Personalization and select the Taskbar option. On the left side, locate the Search Windows option and toggle on the button next to it to enable the search icon.
Windows 11 users may use this method to show Small Taskbar Icons. You will have to use the Registry.
Related: Windows Search Bar or Icon is missing or not showing
4] Check for Updates
Windows search feature may have issues because your Windows system is not up-to-date. So update your Windows manually and see.
5] Restart Windows Search
Restarting Windows Search process ensures that you end the SearchUI process and initiate a new one on the restart. This will ensure that the search process starts afresh and restore the icon on the taskbar. Follow the steps below to restart Windows Search.
- Open Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Task Manager.
- Go to Details > Name, then right-click SearchUI.exe, and click End Task. You will get a prompt; select End process.
6] Scan system files
Corrupted system files may be why the Windows search icon isn’t working. To fix these files you need to run the System File Checker and the DISM tool in the Command Prompt.
7] Rebuild the Windows Search Index
The search index is crucial because Windows relies on it to deliver search results. If the index has issues, the search icon may not work. To fix this, we need to rebuild the Windows search index and see if the problem is resolved. Follow the steps below:
- Open Windows Settings and go to Search > Searching Windows.
- Scroll down, locate, and click on Advanced Search Indexer Settings.
- A new small Indexing Options window will pop up. Click Advanced and click on Rebuild.
- You will get a prompt to confirm your action; select OK to continue. Click OK and follow the on-screen directions to complete the process. It takes a longer time to finish this method.
For Windows 11 users, open Settings and go to Privacy & Security > Searching Windows > Advanced indexing options > Indexing Options > Advanced > Rebuild > OK.
Related: Windows Search not working or finding files
8] Reset Windows Search
Resetting Windows Search may also fix the search icon if it is missing, not working, or too big than expected. We can use PowerShell to reset Windows Search. First, download the reset Windows Search PowerShell script here at microsoft.com. Right-click on the script and choose Run with PowerShell. Follow the on-screen directions to complete the process.
We hope one solution works for you.
Read: Icons not showing in Windows Search Box
Why can’t I type in the search bar on Windows?
If you can’t type in the Windows search bar, a bug may be causing it, and restarting your PC can fix it. If the problem persists, try restarting Explorer or your PC, updating Windows, or resetting Windows Search, among other solutions we discussed in this post.
Read: How to clear or disable Taskbar Search Box History in Windows
Why is my search bar suspended?
Your search bar may be suspended because of a SearchUI.exe error in Windows 11 or Windows 10. Glitches or background apps can cause this error by disrupting related processes. To fix a suspended search bar, run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter, restart Explorer, and update Windows OS.
