Microsoft rolled out its major 22H2 update on September 20, 2022. It possesses a new set of features and a lot of enhancements to improve productivity and security. Alongside the release, this new update also has several bugs and issues including devices and printers missing in control panel.
Moreover, many users are currently experiencing an issue with ‘Search bar’ on Windows 11. According to several reports, users are unable to type/write anything on the search bar and so they can’t find anything. If you are also facing the same issue, go through this guide and learn how you can fix it with some simple and quick workarounds.
How to Fix Search Bar Not Working After Windows 11 22H2 Update
Windows 11 is still in its initial stages and so some bugs and issues are expected. Microsoft will surely address all the issues in its upcoming updates. For now, if the search bar is not working in Windows 11, especially after the 22H2 update, then try the following workarounds to fix the issue.
However, before you start the following methods to fix the issue, check the following points first.
– First of all, simply restart your PC and then check if the search bar is working or not.
– Make sure to update your Windows to the latest version.
– Try to reset your PC once. For this: Go to Settings >> System >> Recovery >> Reset PC.
1. Run ctfmon.exe
Many users have resolved this issue by running ctfmon.exe file. This method is quick and easy to fix so we recommend trying this first.
– Open up the Run dialogue box by pressing Win + R
– Copy paste and press Enter to run this program. C:\Windows\system32\ctfmon.exe.
– It brings back the language bar and it will allow you to type in Windows search, start menu, and Windows 11 apps again.
2. Restart Windows Explorer
The next solution we recommend is to restart Windows explorer. For this,
– Open up the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc
– Select the ‘Process’ tab
– Scroll down and go to ‘Windows Explorer’
– Right-click on it and then select ‘Restart’
– Once restarted, try to type anything to search and the issue should be fixed
3. Repair all Windows apps Via PowerShell
If the above solutions don’t work, try to repair all Windows apps via PowerShell. To do so:
– Open up the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc
– Click on ‘Run new task’ from the top
– Type in Powershell and then check the box that says “Create this task with administrative privileges” and then click on ‘Ok’
– Once the PowerShell window opens, copy the following command and paste it.
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register “$($_. InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml” -DisableDevelopmentMode}
Ignore the red errors and let the process complete.
– Once done, then copy the following command and paste it.
Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_. InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
Again, ignore the red errors and let the process complete.
– Once done, make sure to restart your computer once, and then the search box issue should start working fine.
4. Update Windows 11 Using Media Creation Tool
If the above two solutions don’t work, your last resort is to update Windows 11 using a media creation tool. For this:
– Copy and paste this link into the Windows address bar
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows11
– Then click on ‘Download now’ under ‘Create Windows 11 Installation Media’
– Once downloaded, run the .exe file and click on ‘Yes’ to allow
– Click on ‘Accept’, then click on ‘Next’, select ‘ISO file’, and again click on ‘Next’
– And set the location where you want to save this file
– Then go to the Windows iso file where you have saved it
– Double-click on it and run the ‘setup’ file
– Once done, try to use a search option in your Windows 11 and you are good to go
That’s all you can try to fix the search bar not working issue after Windows 11 22H2 update.
Read more: How to xi update KB5018496 not installing or downloading on Windows 11.