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I frequently use File Explorer to search for local files. Until recently, it would remember my past file searches, but beginning two days ago, without warning, File Explorer no longer remembers those searches; the search bar is empty. How do I reenable it?
I've confirmed that search and file history is enabled in Privacy settings. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Windows 11 Home 10.0.22621 Build 22621
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.
YES! I don't understand why they messed with that feature. At least leave it as a toggle option for those of us who found it so viable to our daily work and productivity! Come on, Microsoft. The issue has been brought to your attention long enough ago - Fix it.
Yes, exactly, we want that feature back! I use a lot of files constantly and search a lot. Its a dealbreaker for me. Maybe its a technical limitation or something, but I dont think so. It sounds very simple
I appreciate your offer, but I will not be creating and deleting partitions.
Plus, this drive is not cloned.
In addition, the search history is not only failing on the C:\ drive, but also on any network drive searches that are performed through File Explorer.
The solution should be that Microsoft restores the formerly established search history functionality without requiring administrator level manipulation of the system settings.
This thread is about the Search History missing. Here's the title of the tread again because apparently you misread it or something.
"Windows 11 File Explorer no longer remembers search history; how to reenable?"
My drive was not cloned. This was a fresh install of Windows 11 on a virgin drive. I can search just fine, but the history of things I've searched for is no longer available when I click in the search box. For instance, I frequently do video encoding and need to search for certain file types. Previously I could just click in the search bar and select the same search I used last time without having to go back to the keyboard and type it in again. Now I have to click in the search bar and type the same thing each time I need to do a search. What used to take 2 clicks of the mouse on subsequent searches now takes the whole effort every time I search. This is going back in time rather than improving processes and moving forward!
What was once a great feature is now gone and those of us posting about it here would like that feature returned.
So, funny thing. I went back to Win10 because of this issue. Figured that since Windows 10 isn't supposed to be getting any more feature updates, the search bar and the search history would be safe there.
Well, the security update KB5033372 came out a few days ago and lo and behold, they did add some new "features". They made the explorer address bar including the search box shorter. Search history still works at least, but the X icon next to each entry is gone and the history box looks really bad. You can only see 3 most recent searches in there, you have to delete (by hitting the del key on keyboard, because the X is gone) the most recent ones to be able to see older ones.
Like, did anyone even look at this before it was shipped?
I repeat this again in case anyone who makes some of these decisions happens to read this:
Please for the love of god stop bundling your security updates with feature updates. Just stop. Stop.
