PC search not working

Redmond Cody 0 Reputation points
2026-09-09T20:44:42.23+00:00

PC search keeps running but does not locate required search item.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Cortana and search

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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-09T20:45:08.5433333+00:00

    Try these checks in order:

    1. Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter.
      • In Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
      • Find Search and Indexing and select Run the troubleshooter.
    2. Verify the Windows Search service is running.
      • Open Start, type services.msc, and press Enter.
      • Find Windows Search.
      • Set Startup type to Automatic (Delayed Start).
      • If Service status is not Running, select Start.
    3. Check whether indexing is still in progress.
      • If indexing is still running, search results can be incomplete.
      • Leave the PC on and connected to power for a few hours so indexing can finish.
      • If the device is busy, indexing can slow down or wait until the PC is idle.
    4. Make sure the correct folders are included in indexing.
      • Open Searching Windows and select Advanced Search Indexer Settings.
      • In Indexing Options, select Modify and confirm the folder that should contain the missing item is included.
    5. If search still misses files, rebuild the index.
      • Open Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Indexing Options.
      • Select Advanced.
      • Select Rebuild, confirm, and wait for the rebuild to complete.
      • Restart the PC after the rebuild.
    6. If the missing item is hidden, enable hidden files in search.
      • Open Organize > Folder and Search Options > View.
      • Under Hidden files and folders, select Show hidden files and folders.
    7. If the file is outside the index, search file contents.
      • In Folder and Search Options > Search, select Always search filenames and contents (might be slow).
      • This can help find files whose content matches the search term even when the file is not indexed.

    If the issue is specifically that search is very slow or the Windows Search service fails to start, third-party registry cleaner or PC optimization tools can cause this by removing or corrupting Windows Search registry values.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Kai-H 26,570 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-10T11:22:19.38+00:00

    Hi, Redmond Cody

    Since Windows Search keeps loading without returning the expected item, the Search interface itself or damaged Windows components may be causing the problem rather than the index.

    Besides the solutions provided by the Q&A Assist, here are some suggestions you can try:

    Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, select Details, find SearchHost.exe on Windows 11 or SearchUI.exe on Windows 10, then select End task. Windows will start the process again automatically when you search.

    Open services.msc, right-click Windows Font Cache Service, and select Stop. Test Search, then return to Services and start it again.

    Install any pending Windows updates under Settings > Windows Update, then restart the PC.

    If the issue continues, open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands one at a time:

    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

    sfc /scannow

    DISM repairs the Windows component store, while SFC replaces damaged protected system files.

    Finally, test Search in a newly created local Windows account. If it works there, the problem is likely limited to the original user profile.

    Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you. 

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