[1909, ou] File explorer search not working

[Sheridan]

Has anyone found a workaround for this issue, its well known that the Search box in 1909 file explorer doesn't work - you can't even type into it FFS!

 

The usual 'restart explorer' solutions don't work for me, so I'm wondering if there's a registry fix I haven't found yet?

Edited January 23, 2020 by Sheridan

[AdamL]

I'm guessing you have the start menu search disabled\blocked by group policy? They changed it so it uses the same search process as found on the start menu

[Sheridan]

I'm guessing you have the start menu search disabled\blocked by group policy? They changed it so it uses the same search process as found on the start menu

 

We don’t have actually this blocked, users have always been able to search the start menu, and it also happens on a test pc logged in as an admin, will minimal policies applied!

[Protec]

Try running sfc /scannow in command prompt?

[mproffitt1983]

I just ran into the 'Windows Search Blank' issue. The same workaround may also work for your situation.

 

I just added the following DWORD into registry and logged off and on again. It does disable Bing search though.

 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search] "BingSearchEnabled"=dword:00000000

 

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-10-search-is-broken-and-shows-blank-results-how-to-fix/

[psydii]

A reboot fixes yesterday’s problem.

 

The registry hack will break future search integration with office 365, so don’t do that.

[synaesthesia]

Don't do the regedit, just update and reboot your PC - known issue across Windows.

[jmak]

Don't do the regedit, just update and reboot your PC - known issue across Windows.

Although it does disable Bing search, so...

[synaesthesia]

Although it does disable Bing search, so...

 

A good point, well made

[Duke5A]

Slashdot has some info on this: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/20/02/09/2241212/suspicion-and-anger-towards-microsoft-rises-after-windows-10-search-failure

 

I guess even if a search is local is still depends on cloud services.

 

...God I'm so happy to be running LTSC.

Edited February 10, 2020 by Duke5A

[ITGuyNW]

Don't do the regedit, just update and reboot your PC - known issue across Windows.

 

Yep, the last CU lists this as a bug they fixed. Happened to one of our users and it was fine again after the update.

[Sheridan]

I think my issue is slightly different. The Windows search box in the task bar works ok, but the file explorer search box was simply disabled, or you couldn't type into it! Update has been applied and I still have the issue, although sometimes a reboot fixes it but not for very long.

[DeGrimmy]

I think my issue is slightly different. The Windows search box in the task bar works ok, but the file explorer search box was simply disabled, or you couldn't type into it! Update has been applied and I still have the issue, although sometimes a reboot fixes it but not for very long.

Sorry to necro this thread, but our PCs have recently been forcefully upgraded to 1909 and whilst pretty much everything still works, we're having this issue as well. Did you manage to find or work out a fix for this please?