One of the most frustrating issues in Windows 10 is when the search bar suddenly stops working. You click the icon or press the Windows key and start typing, but nothing happens. The menu doesn’t open, or the text you enter doesn’t display results—or worse, the entire search box is unresponsive. This is especially confusing when everything else, including the Start Menu and Taskbar, works perfectly. If you’ve recently reset Windows, removed Cortana, or customized your system, this issue can unexpectedly appear.
What Causes the Search Bar to Stop Working?
The search functionality in Windows 10 is tightly connected to Cortana, Windows Search service, and several background processes. When any of these are disabled, corrupted, or improperly removed, the search box can break completely.
Common triggers include:
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Uninstalling or disabling Cortana via registry or PowerShell
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Damaged Windows Search index
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Corrupted system files during updates or resets
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Disabled Windows Search service in Services.msc
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Conflicts from third-party system tweaking or cleaning tools
In your case, it seems the issue started after a fresh reinstall followed by Cortana removal. While it’s understandable that users might want to remove Cortana due to privacy or performance reasons, doing so improperly can disable core parts of Windows Search.
Step-by-Step Solutions
1. Run System File Checker (SFC)
Windows includes a built-in tool to scan and fix corrupted system files.
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Press Windows + X, then choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)
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Type the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
This process will take several minutes. It checks for missing or altered system files and attempts to replace them with the correct versions.
If SFC finds issues but can’t fix them all, continue to the next step.
2. Use DISM to Repair System Image
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is another built-in tool that can fix deeper system corruption.
In the same elevated command window, enter
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Once the process completes (it may take 10–20 minutes), restart your computer and check if the search bar is responsive again.
3. Restart Windows Explorer and Search Services
Sometimes the issue can be solved by restarting relevant services.
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Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
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Find Windows Explorer, right-click, and choose Restart
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Scroll down to SearchUI.exe (or Cortana.exe if available), and end the task
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If needed, press Windows + R, type
services.msc, and ensure Windows Search is set to “Automatic” and is running
4. Re-register Cortana or Search Features
If Cortana was removed using PowerShell scripts, you may need to re-register the search component.
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Open PowerShell as Administrator
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Paste the following command
Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
If Cortana has been completely removed, you may need to reinstall it using the Microsoft Store or restore it through a system update.
5. Create a New User Profile (Optional)
If nothing else works, test by creating a new local user account.
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Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users
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Click Add someone else to this PC
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Create a local user
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Log in with the new account and test the search bar
If it works under the new profile, your original profile may have corrupted registry entries or user-specific app problems.
Prevention Tips
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Avoid third-party tools that remove or “debloat” Windows unless you understand the consequences
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Use official Microsoft tools and commands to disable features like Cortana safely
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Regularly update Windows and system drivers to prevent compatibility issues
The Windows 10 search bar can become unresponsive due to corruption in system files, improper removal of Cortana, or disabled services. Using tools like sfc /scannow and dism /restorehealth, restarting Explorer and SearchUI, and re-registering search components can often resolve the issue. In rare cases, creating a new user profile or performing an in-place Windows repair may be necessary. Always make system backups before editing core features like Cortana.
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