Cortana Search Not Working? Here Are 5 Solutions to Try

The Windows Search Box or Cortana is a useful feature for searching and performing tasks. But, it is not free from errors like other Windows 10 features. Users may experience issues or error messages while using this feature.

One recently reported problem that Windows 10/11 users have experienced is that Search Box or Cortana is not working. According to them, when performing a quick search, Cortana doesn’t show any search results. It only displays an all-white screen.

If you ever find yourself stuck on this problem, there is no reason to panic. In this informative post, we will teach you how to fix Cortana if it’s not showing any search results or if it is not working at all.

Solution #1: Restart the Cortana Search Process.

The first and easiest solution you may try is restarting the Cortana Search process. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Task Manager by pressing the CTRL, Shift, and Esc keys together.
2. Navigate to the Processes tab.
3. Find Cortana Search in the list of processes and right-click on it.
4. Select End Task.
5. Exit Task Manager.
6. Perform a quick Cortana search and check if the problem persists.

Solution #2: Use the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter.

You may also use the Search and Indexing troubleshooter to fix the problem. Here’s how:

1. Launch the Run utility by pressing the Windows and R keys simultaneously.
2. Once the Run utility pops up, input control.
3. Hit OK.
4. Select Indexing Options.
5. Choose Troubleshoot Search and Indexing.
6. Find your problem in the list and click on it.
7. Hit Next.
8. If prompted, select Try troubleshooting with administrator permissions.

Solutions #3: Try Rebuilding Search Index.

Rebuilding Search Index may also fix your problem. To do it, follow these instructions:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select Indexing Options.
3. Click Advanced.
4. Choose Rebuild.
5. Hit OK.
6. Once the indexing process is done, try using Cortana again.

Solution #4: Use the DISM and SFC Tools.

If the first three solutions did not work, use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) and System File Checker (SFC) tools. These two are widely used for fixing common Windows 10/11 errors.

To use these tools to fix Cortana Search problems, follow the steps below:

1. Run Command Prompt as Administrator by pressing the Windows + R shortcut.
2. In the text field, input CMD.
3. Press the Shift + CTRL + Enter keys together to open Command Prompt with full administrator rights.
4. In the command line, input the command below, followed by Enter:
   • Dism.Exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth
5. Wait while DISM repairs the problematic components on your Windows 10/11 device.
6. Once the operation is completed, input the command below, followed by Enter:
   • SFC /SCANNOW
7. After the scan, restart your computer.

Solution #5: Disable Any Active Antivirus and Enable Windows Firewall.

To be clear, we are not trying to tell you to permanently disable your third-party antivirus. We are suggesting to temporarily disable or uninstall it for troubleshooting purposes.

Believe it or not, many antivirus software programs and applications trigger a number of errors. So, for the sake of troubleshooting, try to deactivate or uninstall them and find other alternatives. Once the culprit is identified, enable or install them again.

On the other hand, enabling Windows Firewall has also helped some Windows 10/11 users in fixing the problem. It is likely that the Search and Indexing feature of your computer is sensitive to your firewall’s security settings. Thus, enabling and disabling the firewall may just help you get by.

Solution #6: Clear Your Computer of Junk.

There are cases when junk and unnecessary files are messing up with your system files; hence Cortana Search is not working as expected. So, to prevent bad things from happening, we suggest that you make it a habit to delete unwanted files on your computer.

Of course, you have the option to do it manually. You may check one folder after another and delete any suspicious-looking files from them. But take note that this is going to be very time-consuming. Plus, it’s also risky.

Your best option is to use a third-party PC repair tool. With such a reliable tool, you can remove any junk files in just a few clicks. You can also optimize your computer and get it running smooth and fast.

Solution #7: Re-register Cortana.

Cortana itself may also be a culprit for your search problems. If restarting it does not work, try re-registering its app.

Here’s how:

1. Launch Windows File Explorer.
2. Go to this location: C:Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0.
3. Right-click on Powershell.exe.
4. Choose Run as Administrator.
5. As soon as PowerShell opens, input this code and run it:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

6. After executing the command, exit PowerShell.
7. Restart your computer.

Solution #8: Use Windows Troubleshooter.

The easiest and simplest solution available for you is to use the built-in Windows Troubleshooter on your Windows 10/11 device. Although using it won’t completely guarantee fixing your Cortana Search problem, it’s worth a shot.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Change the current view to Large Icons.
3. Select Troubleshooting -> System and Security.
4. Choose Search and Indexing.
5. Hit Next.
6. Check all applicable options.
7. Hit Next to commence the scan.

Solution #9: Restart Windows Explorer.

Windows Explorer is responsible for managing some important files on your computer and for making sure everything in the Start menu is functioning well. Since Cortana is a part of the Start menu, restarting Windows Explorer might help fix your search problem.

Here’s how you restart Windows Explorer:

1. Use the CTRL + Shift + Esc shortcut keys to launch Task Manager.
2. In the list of processes on your screen, find Windows Explorer and right-click on it.
3. Hit Restart.

Wrapping Up

That’s it! Hopefully, at least one of the solutions above has helped fix your Cortana Search problems. If none of them worked, you can always seek help from experts. Take your computer to an accredited service center and have a professional technician fix the problem.

Do you know other ways to fix problems with Cortana not showing any results? Share them below!