Windows 11 File Explorer no longer remembers search history; how to reenable?

Anonymous
2023-03-18T16:09:33+00:00

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

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-04-03T06:21:10+00:00

    Hi Diplocaulus,

    We fully understand the inconvenience the issue has caused and that the current situation can be frustrating.  

    Currently, such issues, of which the Microsoft technical team is aware, are gathering more information to address the issue in a subsequent version update.

    We advise you to be patient and hope that this document will be resolved soon.

    Your Sincerely

    Hahn - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-04-01T10:32:43+00:00

    I believe this issue extends to the 'Run' (WIN + R) history as well.

    There appears to be a registry hack to sort the Run history but the change is not persistent after a reboot.

    Out of interest, did anyone resort to using the ExplorerPatcher to give Windows 11 some of the features that were removed from Windows 10? Taskbar position is one example (I have had my taskbar at the top of my screen for as long as I can remember and cannot get used to the bar at the bottom. Most unergonomic! I suspected a few compatibility issues so I uninstalled it, and for a day the run and search bar histories returned but disappeared after the next reboot. I wonder if ExplorerPatcher inadvertently changed some registry permissions. Any way to revert the registry permissions to default?

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-03-30T13:23:16+00:00

    For what it's worth I did rebuild the search index on my desktop since it did have the issue of not finding a file that it definitely should have picked up. The rebuild did fix the issue with finding the file that was being missed but the problem with the search box history still remains.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-03-26T19:01:03+00:00

    Same here. Search results are fine (within the scope of Windows' search capability), it just doesn't remember your past searches. For better or for worse, that's a feature I've come to rely upon so it's a pain when it stops working entirely.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-03-26T16:11:13+00:00

    P.S.2

    The search results appear to be correct, therefore, no need to rebuild anything, but to fix the bug: Not Remember recent searches. Please.

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