As it turns out, File Explorer is a really important utility on Windows that lets you browse all the files that are present on your computer. In addition to that, you can quickly search for certain files by their filenames or the types of files using the File Explorer search option. However, when that isn’t working properly and returning incorrect results, it can be really frustrating. As we have mentioned, this can happen due to a number of reasons and before we get into the methods that will help you resolve the issue, let us first go through these causes so that you are able to establish a better understanding of the problem at hand. With that said, let us get started. Now that we have gone through the possible list of causes of the problem in question, we can get started by showing you the different methods of resolving the issue. So, without further ado, let us get right into it.
Run Searching and Indexing Troubleshooter
As it turns out, the first thing that you should do when you encounter the problem in question is to run the searching and indexing troubleshooter on your computer. Windows comes with its own set of troubleshooters that you can use for the different issues that you come across on the operating system in hope that it will fix the issue. The search and indexing troubleshooter can help you find any issues with the Windows Search and get them sorted. Running the troubleshooter is pretty easy. To do this, follow the instructions given down below:
Restart File Explorer
Like we have mentioned above, one of the reasons that the File Explorer search may not be working is when the File Explorer process is malfunctioning. When this happens, certain functionalities of the app may not work which includes the search feature. If this case is applicable, you will have to simply restart the process through the Task Manager window and then see if that resolves the problem for you. To do this, follow the instructions that are given down below:
Rebuild Search Index
If the above solutions do not work out for you and you are still experiencing the issue in question, it may be due to the fact that the search index has been corrupted. The search index is used by the Windows operating system to facilitate all the searches that you make on the operating system. Therefore, if the search index is damaged, the results shown won’t be correct and in such a case, you will have to rebuild the search index. If this case is applicable, you can rebuild the search index pretty easily by following the instructions that are given down below:
Edit User Account Control Registry Keys
As it turns out, another way that you can resolve the problem is by editing the registry keys of the User Account Control. UAC essentially is a feature that notifies you whenever a program on your computer requires administrative privileges. When this happens, you will have to allow the program administrative privileges in order for it to be allowed to run. In this method, we will be editing the registry keys of UAC to essentially disable the feature. It is important to note that making unwanted changes to the Windows Registry may render your system incapable. Therefore, we would recommend creating a backup of the Windows Registry before proceeding. If you follow the instructions down below carefully, everything should be fine. With that said, let us get started.
Register Windows Search
In case the above solutions have not fixed the problem for you, then you will have to register the Windows Search again on your computer. While doing this, we will be specifying that the manifest is from an existing installation of Windows Search. This means that we will be simply re-registering Windows Search. This can be really helpful when the SearchApp.exe process keeps crashing on your computer. This process is essentially responsible for creating a search index that is later on used by Windows for all your search purposes. In order to do this, you will have to open up a Powershell window. To do this, follow the instructions given down below:
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