![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(89.60000000000001, 72%, 18%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ESI%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I have escalated it, thank you for the patience.
File Explorer search not working in Windows 10 1909
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Anonymous
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.
369 answers
Sort by: Oldest
-
Anonymous
2019-11-24T22:26:00+00:00 Another user with the dodgy explorer search box in 1909. 50/50 whether it works, when it doesn't clicking on it does nothing, if I use CTRL F to force it to use the search box then I can type only one letter, typing letters then just replaces the previous one.
Rebooting will usually fix it but it randomly breaks during use for no apparent reason, plus it doesn't break in all windows, some work ok and others don't. Why change something that's worked for a hell of a long time and has never broken!. On top of it, it doesn't auto search as you type and there is no easy way to remove the old search history.
-
Anonymous
2019-11-25T03:16:46+00:00 Same problem here.
This all started with the 1909 update.
Restarting explorer.exe fixes it, but it's really annoying.
-
Anonymous
2019-11-25T04:31:55+00:00 Yeah I wrote a .bat that taskkills explorer.exe and i’ve just been reopening it. I’ve tried all the troubleshooting suggested and nothing fixes it for long.
-
Anonymous
2019-11-25T10:34:40+00:00 Hi !
I confirm windows file search problems on all 6 computers in my office. It takes some time to write search criteria in the search window - it does not respond. Search suggestion are shown in a narrow column - barely visible. A quick solution to the problem could be very much appreciated.