- Go to the Services app and restart the Explorer and the Windows Search Services.
- Right-click on the folder that contains the file you are searching for, go to Properties, and ensure you’ve allowed all permissions.
- Go to Control Panel > Indexing Options > Advances > rebuild the index to fix issues with the File Explorer search.
Before you begin, try restarting the File Explorer app and fixing corrupted files using an SFC scan .
Fix 1: Restart Windows Search Service
File Explorer is a part of Windows Explorer Services. It starts with the system startup. If the service doesn’t start automatically in the background, the search function might break for you.
Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box
Step 2: Type services.msc and hit Enter .
Step 3: When the UAC prompt appears, choose Yes . Scroll to Windows Search in the Services window and right-click on it. Open Properties from the context menu.
Step 4: Select Automatic from the Startup type menu > select Stop > hit Start .
Open File Manager and try the search function again.
Fix 2: Run Search and Indexing Troubleshooter
Windows 11 comes with handy troubleshooters to fix such system-level glitches. There’s a dedicated troubleshooter for Search and Indexing files in Windows.
Step 1: Press Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
Step 2: Select System from the left > click on Troubleshoot on the right.
Step 3: Click Other troubleshooters .
Step 4: Click on the Run button next to the Search and indexing troubleshooter.
Fix 3: Check Search Options
You can enable the Always search file names and contents option in File Explorer properties.
Step 1: Press the Windows + E keys to open the File Explorer menu.
Step 2: Select the three-dot menu at the top to open Options.
Step 3: Go to the Search menu.
Step 4: Enable the Always search file names and contents option > hit OK .
The search function may act slowly as it searches for file names and content in the app.
Fix 4: Allow File Indexing
Sometimes, the search results come empty when the files don’t index in the drive.
Step 1: Press the Windows + E keys to open File Explorer on Windows.
Step 2: Select the three horizontal dots menu on the top ribbon and open Properties .
Step 3: Select Advanced under the General tab.
Step 4: Check the box for Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties and click OK .
Fix 5: Rebuild Search Index
If your computer has an old Search Index, a list of files on your computer, it might not give you accurate and updated search results. If the Search Index was stopped or deactivated, you could get it back in action. You can rebuild the search index to fix the search not working in the File Explorer issue.
Step 1: Press the Windows key > search for Control Panel > hit Enter and open it.
Step 2: Select Indexing Options .
Step 3: Select the Advanced button.
Step 4: Click Rebuild and hit OK .
Fix 6: Check Folder Permission
If you have denied a folder permission on Windows, the File Explorer search won’t work as expected.
Step 1: Launch File Explorer on Windows.
Step 2: Right-click on a folder and open Properties .
Step 3: Go to the Security tab > click Edit .
Step 4: Enable all the checkmarks below Allow > click Apply > OK .
Restart the File Explorer app on Windows and try searching for your files again.
Fix 7: Clear File Explorer Cache
File Explorer collects cache in the background to improve the app’s performance. However, when the app collects a corrupt cache, the search function may fail to work properly.
Step 1: Hit the Windows key > search for File Explorer options.
Step 2: Click Clear beside Clear File Explorer history > Apply > OK .
Fix 8: Assign System Permissions to a Folder
If the File Explorer search isn’t working for a specific folder, you need to assign system permission to it.
Step 1: Open File Manager (Windows + E keys) and right-click on a folder.
Step 2: Open Properties from the context menu.
Step 3: Slide to the Security menu.
Step 4: Ensure System is selected by default. If not, click the Edit button.
Step 5: Press Add > type SYSTEM .
Step 6: Click Check names > hit OK .
