How to Resolve Windows Search Issues
Windows operating system includes powerful system-wide search functionality that lets users quickly find files and other data via a Start Menu or Start Screen search.
Windows Search is a standard component of Windows Vista and later versions of Windows operating system and is enabled by default. Windows Search replaces Windows Desktop Search (WDS), which was available as an add-in for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
In Windows Vista and later, Windows Search is integrated into all Windows Explorer windows for instant access to search. This enables users to quickly search for files and items by file name, properties, and full-text contents. Results can also be filtered further to refine the search.
By default, Windows Search will index certain common locations on your drive, such as the User profile folder, Outlook Messages, and Internet Explorer browsing history. If Windows Search stops working for you and no longer returns search results for files that you know exist, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue. Here’s how to fix Windows Search issues in all versions of Windows from Vista to 10.
Open the Start Menu --> Control Panel --> Indexing Options.
Make sure that Windows is indexing the location where your files reside. You’ll see a list of locations and applications that are currently being indexed; note that if a drive or folder is listed here, then all subfolders and files included in that drive are indexed as well.
If the locations of your files are not listed here you can manually add them. Click the Modify button and you’ll see a list of all locations on your PC. Find the desired drive or folder that contains files you’d like indexed and check the box next to it. Click OK when done and you’ll return to the Indexing Options window to see your new location listed.
Even if your files was already in the indexed locations list, you’ll want to rebuild your Windows Search index as your next troubleshooting step. This index can become corrupted or otherwise encounter issues, and rebuilding it from scratch is often a good way to solve Windows Search problems.
To rebuild the Windows Search indexing, open Start Menu --> Control Panel --> Indexing Options. Click the Advanced button and from Index Settings tab of the Advanced Options window click the Rebuild button.
Windows will display a warning message, that the index rebuilding process may take a long time, and that you may not have full search functionality until it’s complete. Click OK to accept the warning and start the re-indexing process.
Once the Windows Search index has been rebuilt, try searching for your files again.
Windows Search is a standard component of Windows Vista and later versions of Windows operating system and is enabled by default. Windows Search replaces Windows Desktop Search (WDS), which was available as an add-in for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
In Windows Vista and later, Windows Search is integrated into all Windows Explorer windows for instant access to search. This enables users to quickly search for files and items by file name, properties, and full-text contents. Results can also be filtered further to refine the search.
By default, Windows Search will index certain common locations on your drive, such as the User profile folder, Outlook Messages, and Internet Explorer browsing history. If Windows Search stops working for you and no longer returns search results for files that you know exist, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue. Here’s how to fix Windows Search issues in all versions of Windows from Vista to 10.
Open the Start Menu --> Control Panel --> Indexing Options.
Make sure that Windows is indexing the location where your files reside. You’ll see a list of locations and applications that are currently being indexed; note that if a drive or folder is listed here, then all subfolders and files included in that drive are indexed as well.
If the locations of your files are not listed here you can manually add them. Click the Modify button and you’ll see a list of all locations on your PC. Find the desired drive or folder that contains files you’d like indexed and check the box next to it. Click OK when done and you’ll return to the Indexing Options window to see your new location listed.
Even if your files was already in the indexed locations list, you’ll want to rebuild your Windows Search index as your next troubleshooting step. This index can become corrupted or otherwise encounter issues, and rebuilding it from scratch is often a good way to solve Windows Search problems.
To rebuild the Windows Search indexing, open Start Menu --> Control Panel --> Indexing Options. Click the Advanced button and from Index Settings tab of the Advanced Options window click the Rebuild button.
Windows will display a warning message, that the index rebuilding process may take a long time, and that you may not have full search functionality until it’s complete. Click OK to accept the warning and start the re-indexing process.
Once the Windows Search index has been rebuilt, try searching for your files again.