Windows 11 Search Not Working or Returning No Results? Restart It and Reset Windows Search

You click the Search box (or press Win + S) and nothing types, the panel is blank, or you get no results for things you know are on the PC.

Why: Windows 11 search is run by a packaged process called SearchHost.exe, backed by a content index. If that process hangs, the index is corrupt or out of date, or the search package’s data is damaged, search shows nothing. The steps below go from a quick restart to a full, file-safe reset.

Fix 1: Restart the Windows Search process

Ending SearchHost forces Windows Search to start fresh the next time you search — nothing is lost.

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete → Task Manager.
2. Select Details.
3. In the Name column, right-click SearchHost.exe → End task → confirm End process.

Search again — the process relaunches automatically. If it’s still broken, restart the PC (this also applies any pending updates).

Fix 2: Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that resets search to its default behavior.

1. Open Command Prompt and run:

msdt.exe -ep WindowsHelp id SearchDiagnostic

2. In the troubleshooter, tick any problems that apply (for example “Files don’t appear in search results”) and let Windows detect and fix them.

Fix 3: Rebuild the search index (no results, but search opens)

If search works but doesn’t find files, the index is the problem.

1. Open Indexing Options (search for it, or Control Panel → Indexing Options).
2. Click Advanced → under Troubleshooting, click Rebuild → OK.

Rebuilding can take a while and runs in the background; results return as the index repopulates.

Fix 4: Reset Windows Search with the official PowerShell script

Microsoft provides a signed script to reset search on Windows 11. Resetting doesn’t touch your files — it may briefly affect result relevance while the index rebuilds.

1. First check your execution policy. Open an elevated PowerShell window and run:

Get-ExecutionPolicy

2. If it isn’t Unrestricted, note the current value, then allow the script to run for your account:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

Press Y then Enter to accept. Close the window.

3. Download ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1 from Microsoft’s Reset Windows Search PowerShell script page, right-click the saved file, and choose Run with PowerShell. Approve the UAC prompt. When it prints Done, search has been reset.

4. If you changed the execution policy in step 2, set it back to what it was:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy <PreviousValue>

Replace <PreviousValue> with the value Get-ExecutionPolicy reported earlier (commonly Restricted), and accept with Y.

Fix 5: Regenerate the search app data (last resort)

If search is still dead, the search package’s per-user data may be corrupt. Confirm search works in a new local user account first (this proves it’s your profile, not the system). Then, signed in as the affected user, delete this folder:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy

Then re-register the Windows 11 search package from an elevated PowerShell prompt and restart:

Add-AppxPackage -Path "C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\Appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register

FAQ

The script won’t run — “running scripts is disabled on this system.” Your execution policy is still restricted. Go back to Fix 4 step 1, set it to Unrestricted for the current user, run the script, then restore the original value.

Will resetting Windows Search delete my files or remove apps? No. It resets the search experience and the index. Your files and apps are untouched; search just needs a little time to re-index.

Search opens but typing does nothing. That’s the SearchHost process hanging — Fix 1 (end the process) is the right first step, followed by a restart.

Sources: Microsoft Learn — Fix problems in Windows Search