Windows search stops working randomly

[myhades]

I'm currently running win11 23h2(22631.2428), and the latest explorer patcher(22621.2428.59.1).
Windows search would randomly refuse to work on some bootups, while it works perfectly fine in other times.
By refusing to work I mean neither win+s / press icon / typing from start menu works, the search window just won't show up.
All it takes is a reboot / logout & login to fix this for most of the times.
Temporarily restoring patcher to defaults and restart the explorer / just restarting explorer alone doesn't work.
Not sure what kind of logs / diagnostics to provide, if there is any, but will be happy to assist.

[pyrates999]

try this to rebuild the search index: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/shell-experience/windows-search-performance-issues

[taiyoko]

I am having the same issue, only searching from the start menu is completely broken for me. Rebuilding the search index did not fix it.

[myhades]

try this to rebuild the search index: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/shell-experience/windows-search-performance-issues

No it didn’t fix it for me either. I don’t think this is an issue with search index.
Search anywhere else works fine without any performance issue, just the win+s window won’t show up.

[pyrates999]

might be related to this: #1975

[amodoke]

Same here. Newest update broke search.

[ffscz]

Same here. Newest update broke search. Neither win+s nor the search icon works. It's just that search doesn't work in Windows.

Latest ExplorerPatcher

Windows 11 Pro v. 22H2
Build: 22621.2715
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22677.1000.0

[ffscz]

Ok, i'm find solutions on MS Help Center.

Repair all Windows apps via PowerShell
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager then click File
Select "Run new task" then type: powershell
Make sure to put a check mark on the "Create this task with administrative privileges" box

Copy and paste the command below one at a time then press Enter. Please ignore the red errors and let the process complete.

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_. InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}

Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_. InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Restart your computer

[taiyoko]

@ffscz thanks so much, that worked for me!

[myhades]

Ok, i'm find solutions on MS Help Center.

Repair all Windows apps via PowerShell Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager then click File Select "Run new task" then type: powershell Make sure to put a check mark on the "Create this task with administrative privileges" box

Copy and paste the command below one at a time then press Enter. Please ignore the red errors and let the process complete.

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_. InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}

Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_. InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Restart your computer

Thanks for the info.
My search breaks down just from time to time so will report back in a few days.

[myhades]

The issue persists.
Applied twice but neither lasted long.

[ffscz]

@myhades

Try to uninstall ExplorerPatcher, make the repair according to the procedure above. Reinstall ExplorerPatcher and restart your PC.

It works for me so far without any problem.

Anyway, Windows 11 Pro has progressed so that I probably won't need ExplorerPatcher any time soon. I had it mainly because of the left alignment of the taskbar and not grouping application windows, which is now possible directly in Windows.

[ANONYMOUSEJR]

try this to rebuild the search index: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/shell-experience/windows-search-performance-issues

This fixed it for me. Thank you!

Upon further work (problem came back with a vengeance), I have found that this is the way (from @ffscz):

Try to uninstall ExplorerPatcher, make the repair according to the procedure above. Reinstall ExplorerPatcher and restart your PC.

Just a minor note to anyone having issues/error with the first command, it was because of ShellExperienceHost You can get rid of it via the task manager and if the error persists restart your pc then try to kill it again before running the two commands.