This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
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.
In other words, I post a criticism of a change MS made to my OS, WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE, and now MS wants me to reiterate my criticism in another forum? Didn't MS just invest $10 B in AI? This is a perfect example of S.N.A.F.U., a concept that I believe was first coined back in 1941!!!!!
This is just another tech support run-around scam and I, for one, am not going to waste my time giving any more feedback.
Dear Hahn - MSFT:
Are you a human being? You're replies and suggestions are very weird and virtually useless.
Hi Diplocaulus, and the other users who replied here.
The current Windows 11 File Explorer no longer shows the search history, by design.
Microsoft takes user experience very seriously, if you think this feature can be helpful to you.
You can submit your ideas and suggestions through the Feedback Center, and the development team will periodically review the ideas or fixes that are submitted.
Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app - Microsoft Support
After submitting, please share the feedback link here, as this will allow others on the forums to vote for your submission, including me. More votes will result in more visibility and higher priority for the development team.
Your Sincerely
Hahn - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist
Hi Hahn,
Thank you for the information. Would you kindly provide a link to where Microsoft has indicated that it has turned off search history by design? (You're not a Microsoft employee yourself, correct?) That would be helpful. Thanks again.
Add me to 'some users' affected by. And it started with the Mar. 16, 23 Windows Updates and/or;
2023-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
System (KB5023706) Learn more
Successfully installed on 16/03/23
Bluetooth & devices
2023-02 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
e Network & internet (KB5022845) Learn more
Successfully installed on 16/02/23
Personalization
2023-02 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8.1 for Windows 11, version
22H2 for x64 (KB5022497) Learn more
Apps Successfully installed on 16/02/23
When a 'Microsoft Agent' uses wording of 'This could be a bug in Windows 11 that affects some users.', it's reasonable to assume that it's a bug confirmation.
Can the affected users expect it to be fixed by next Windows Updates? Please.
Me and my colleagues are having the exact same issue, this has persissted since early march.
We too have tried all the "fixes" recommended, none of which have worked.
Everything was perfectly fine until the recent updates.
It's quite astonishing, that clearly it's a long ongoing issue affecting so many people.
Yet MS seemingly still haven't done anything to address this.
You'd expect them to at least try to get it resolved as soon as possible, considering the ammount of people affected.
