Missing search tab - File Explorer (Windows 10 - 1909)

Anonymous
2019-11-27T19:11:35+00:00

Hello,

I have installed the latest update of windows 10 (home and pro).

Windows 10 Pro - 1909 (v. 18363.476)

Now the "search" tab is no longer in the folders and I can't clear the search history either. Where is this tab?!

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

133 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2020-12-21T11:12:49+00:00

    Perfect. 

    Adding the "kind:" popped up the search tools for me. 

    Thank you

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-12T21:51:10+00:00

    Ok, so I don't see where you can actually type a specific date or enter a user date range??  Seriously, why is this so difficult? smh

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-12T21:47:19+00:00

    I found the "fix".  Windows 1909 changed the search functionality as it was a resource hog.  After typing a word in the search box, hit enter.  The Search Tools tab will appear.  Why couldn't MS have added a help balloon at the search box??

    Here's where I found help:  https://appuals.com/missing-search-tab-file-explorer-windows-10-1909/

    This still doesn't resolve the issue I have where the search box only allows you to see about 2-3 characters as you type a word and making the window bigger doesn't help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2020-12-12T21:42:51+00:00

    I also have this issue  on two laptops.  One with Win Pro 10 and one Win Home 10.  I also have a second search issue I noticed in the last two months but may have been there longer.  The search box where you type the search word has become less wide.  I have a 4k screen and it doesn't matter if Explorer is full screen or minimized for either laptop.  When I try to type a search word, I can only see about 2 characters at a time.

    Both laptops have all updates installed.

    Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.  In 2017 I almost switched to Mac and now wish I would have.  I spend more time trying to resolve Windows 10 issues or MS Office issues than I do actually getting work done.

    What's the next thing to try?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2020-12-11T12:17:07+00:00

    Hi JerryFranco,

    I have just started experiencing this issue on my main PC but it works fine on the laptop and both versions of Windows are way higher than when this was first reported. I don't think this is a case of Microsoft removed the search functionality, I think it's that at some point, regardless of version, it get's corrupt and stops working.

    I tried the solution in the link, running an administrator command prompt and then running the System File Checker; it found and fixed corrupted files but after a reboot I still had a faulty search button. Let's hope we both get a solution!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments