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

Sorry if this has been answered in the previous 10 pages - but wasn't seeing an 'accepted' answer and didn't have time to read them all.

Personally I believe that this is a bug and hope it will be fixed in a future update (and I'm using the latest  Win10 20H2 - Oct Update), but what worked for me was enter anything in the search box and hit enter or the search arrow, the search tab then appears and you can then search again with all the full search tab options.

You can also perform more advanced searches using Advanced Query Syntax and operators directly from the search box, some examples:

https://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-10/find-specific-files-in-windows-explorer-with-these-search-tips/

and a more comprehensive list:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/lwef/-search-2x-wds-aqsreference#desktop-search-syntax

Best answer I found is by a guy name Bree

In:

XXXhttps://www.tenforums.com/general-support/144969-cant-perform-advanced-search-windows-1909-file-explorer.htmlXXX

(link above is sent as text appended both sides with: XXX)

Bree said 22 Nov 2019

"It's easy and quick. Just uninstall the Enablement Package (KB4517245) to turn off all 1909 features and drop back from build 18363 to 18362"

(people mentioned here 1909 as a cause for the problem)

He included a photocopy of the  W10 screen showing exactly how to uninstall KB4517245.

Note: W10 may upload  KB4517245 again

(I had it uninstalled for about 6 months, then had to uninstall it again)

I share the frustration expressed by many here.

It is perceived by many of us as a blunt disregard on the part of MS team.

And this is a pity! In many senses W10 reached perfection.

I had the same problem, it did not show when clicking the box, but as soon as you search something it appears. You can cancel the search and it will remain. But it will vanish again if you change the folder or drive you have selected on the left column.

sometimes if you have a lot on the bar, you have to hit that small down arrow (which in my image is to the right of the search icon.  It reveals more icons that are hidden if the number won't fit on the visible space alloted.