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

Hi Hahn - MSFT,

Thank you for your suggestions and for reporting this issue to MS. I completed the steps you outlined in "To clear the File Explorer history", however for "To check the search settings" I see no Search option in the left-hand menu (see attached screenshot).

Could you kindly post a screenshot from your own Windows 11 PC? Thank you.

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/e12f8d40-a86d-4996-9a89-5613fb70d17a?platform=QnA

Hi Hermitish,

Thank you for the information, I checked the post you wrote before and wondered if you had submitted your feedback.

If you have already submitted, please share the feedback link, I will submit your feedback to the relevant team for investigation through internal channels.

If you don't have it yet, you can also submit your problem through the Feedback Hub (if convenient, please provide as much detail as possible, including pictures, repro videos, etc.).  

Your Sincerely

Hahn - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Hi Diplocaulus,

I apologize for the confusion caused by my previous response. Here are the steps to clear the File Explorer history and check the search settings in Windows 11:

To clear the File Explorer history:

Open File Explorer.

Click on the three dots (ellipsis) in the upper-right corner of the window to open the menu.

Click on "Options."

In the "Folder Options" window, click on the "Clear" button next to "Clear File Explorer history."

To check the search settings:

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.

Click on "Search" in the left-hand menu.

Click on "Permissions & history."

Under "History," make sure that the option "Search history on this device" is enabled.

According to the information provided by dear Hermitish, this does not exclude that it is a file explorer error.

I have submitted this issue for you through internal channels. In addition, you can also submit your problem through the Feedback Hub (if convenient, please provide as much detail as possible, including pictures, repro videos, etc.).  

Please share the feedback link after submitting, I will submit your feedback to the relevant team for investigation through internal channels.

Your Sincerely

Hahn - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Thank you for the suggestions. I tried them all except the last (I do not want to reset my File Explorer customizations), but the problem remains. Also, some of the steps outlined do not match my Windows version:

Clear the File Explorer history: Open File Explorer, click on the "View" tab in the ribbon, and then click on "Options." In the "Folder Options" window, click on the "Clear" button next to "Clear File Explorer history." This will clear the search history and may enable it to start working again.

This is incorrect. "Options" is available under the three dots on the Explorer ribbon, not under "View."

Check the Search settings: Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I, then click on "Search" and select "Searching Windows." Make sure that the option "Search history on this device" is enabled.

This is incorrect. There is no "Search" option here. Where is it?

I can't speak for the OP but I tried the steps you describe and still have the issue, I have this on both windows 11 computers I use and it's quite annoying. I posted about this over a week ago and the reply was that this is a known bug reported by multiple people. Can you confirm is this a bug that is being worked on? If anyone has managed to solve it I'd appreciate a solution.

Thanks