File Explorer search not working in Windows 10 1909

Anonymous
2019-11-20T13:56:08+00:00

Ever since I updated to Windows 10 1909 the Search Box in the File Explorer is completely unuseable. It shows a text cursor but I cannot click inside the box or type any text into it. Essentially it's a text box with no "wiring". 

Any ideas how to resolve this issue? I'm having to resort to using a third-party search app just to find files in my projects.

Kind regards

Byron

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

369 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2020-01-22T02:02:00+00:00

    Thanks, Already tried that and, like others, it doesn't work for me

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2020-01-22T01:17:23+00:00

    +1… exactly the same problem!

    Could it be Malware that affects the performance and behaviour of explorer.exe?

    I have real-time Malwarebytes running as well as MS Security Essentials. I regularly check to make sure there is no malware infection and I notice no other evidence of any malware. But . . . thanks for your very good observation.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2020-01-22T00:31:58+00:00

    +1… exactly the same problem!

    Could it be Malware that affects the performance and behaviour of explorer.exe?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2020-01-22T00:31:50+00:00

    +1… exactly the same problem!

    Could it be Malware that affects the performance and behaviour of explorer.exe?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2020-01-21T22:28:13+00:00

    Other workarounds (not requiring any 3rd party tools / downloads).

    This issue is not a show stopper for me, when I can simply restart Windows Explorer from the built-in Task Manager. It's annoying, but it gets you back up and running with the built-in Windows Explorer. Here are the steps:

    1. Right-click on the Windows Task Bar and select Task Manager
    2. In the Apps list, select Windows Explorer
    3. At the bottom right corner of Task Manager, press the Restart button
    4. You can now close the Task Manager

    You can now restart Windows Explorer (Windows-Key, E) and get back to what you were doing before, until the search functionality locks up on you again. Yes, it's annoying having to navigate back there, but least you are safe from potentially malicious 3rd party tools.

    Another workaround is using the Command Prompt (also built in to Windows). If you are not familiar with it, it's a bit of a learning curve. Search the web for "how to use the command prompt". You only need to know how to navigate to the folder with the files you are searching for (the "cd" command) and how to do the file search (the "dir" command). 

    Chris

    PS: these are not solutions, they are workarounds until the spring update is released.

    This workaround works for me, but I have to do this roughly every 3 to 5 different searches. So on days that I am searching frequently, I have to reset numerous times a day.

    Kudos to Chris for posting or re-posting this workaround, hopefully Microsoft filters these forums by "Hot" and not by "New".

    But . . . does this work-around also bring back the search options that used to appear in the command ribbon when you would click inside the search box? I haven't tested that, but I suspect not. That is my main issue with the broken-otherwise search function.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments