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

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-01-04T04:26:36+00:00

    I just have been going thru the same thing for the past month or so and have ver 1909. Tried other solutions and so far this is the only thing that seems to work; which I first tried today.

    Open Settings > then switched all to ON and now it is working.

    So you post that it's working for something you only just started testing today?

    Let us know when the problem returns.

    Chris

    and it has... and we go around around again

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-01-04T12:33:11+00:00

    Same problem here, Search in File Explorer is completely screwed. Update 1909 being uninstalled.

    I can only wonder when their constant screw-ups will make me uninstall Windows altogether...

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-01-04T19:34:09+00:00

    You can use a 3-rd party alternative Explorer++

    instead File Explorer.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-01-04T20:15:52+00:00

    So does anyone have this update installed?

    I would think that a basic Windows function such as the search box would certainly warrant a quicker repair/fix.

    For me I can type in it but the box is so small you can't see what you are typing....so its pretty useless.

    That part doesn't seem to be mentioned in any posts.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-01-05T18:50:42+00:00

    I too have experienced this exact same issue on two different computers, one of which is literally only a day old.

    I cannot speak for the long-term reliability of this method, but here's a way I found to (at least temporarily) fix the broken search bar without having to kill explorer.exe in Task Manager or having to use PowerShell commands on my own computer:

    1. Open a folder, any folder (doesn't matter which)
    2. In the Ribbon, click on View and then Options
    3. When the Folder Options window appears, click the View tab
    4. Scroll the "Advanced settings" list about halfway down
    5. Look for the setting "Launch folder windows in a separate process".

          a. If it is NOT checked, then click the box to check it

          b. If it IS checked, then uncheck it, click Apply, and finally re-check it

    1. Click Apply, and then OK.

    This seems to have worked for me, but like I said only time will tell if the problem comes back or not.

    Thanks, unfortunately it worked for a while and then didn't work. Hope Microsoft fixes this soon

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