General Reset Windows Search in Windows 11


Search_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to reset Windows Search in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

You can use Windows Search to find your apps, files, settings, help, and more on Windows—plus unlock the power of the web with quick access to online information like time zone conversions, fact lookup, trending searches, and search results for navigating to websites faster. You can also use Search to find files and people in your work or school organization through  Microsoft Search. 

If Windows Search is unresponsive and not working, you can try resetting Windows Search to fix problems with it.

References:

Search for anything, anywhere - Microsoft Support

Search Windows and the web on the taskbar, and search for answers, apps, files, and settings from the web and your PC.
support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com
learn.microsoft.com

Fix problems in Windows Search - Windows Client

Provides troubleshooting options for problems that affect the search results for the Windows Search feature in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
learn.microsoft.com

You must be signed in as an administrator to reset Windows Search.




Here's How:

1 Download the ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1 file for your language from Microsoft at the link below. (see screenshot below)


Reset_Windows_Search_download.png

2 Save the ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1 file to your desktop.

This file must be saved to your desktop for the command in step 5 to work since the command references this location.


3 Unblock the ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1 file.

4 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

5 Copy and paste the appropriate command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

Windows PowerShell​
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -File "$Env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1"​

OR​

Command Prompt​
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -File "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1"​

6 When the script is Done, you can close Windows Terminal (Admin).

Reset_Windows_Search_command.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
Hi Shawn,

I see that this script Resets the following paths:

@("$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Cortana_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\AppCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Cortana_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Cortana_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetCookies",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Cortana_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetHistory",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\AppCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetCookies",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetHistory",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Search_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\AppCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Search_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Search_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetCookies",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Search_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetHistory",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\AppCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetCookies",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetHistory")


All of these packages do not exist in Windows 11. I wonder if there is another UWP component that handles search now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 5590
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 1021U
SumitDhiman said:
Hi Shawn,

I see that this script Resets the following paths:

@("$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Cortana_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\AppCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Cortana_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Cortana_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetCookies",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Cortana_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetHistory",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\AppCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetCookies",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetHistory",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Search_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\AppCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Search_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Search_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetCookies",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Search_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\INetHistory",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\AppCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetCache",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetCookies",
"$Env:localappdata\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\INetHistory")


All of these packages do not exist in Windows 11. I wonder if there is another UWP component that handles search now.
Click to expand...
Hello Sumit, :alien:

I didn't find any of those paths in the latest W11 Canary build as well.

I found these packages below that may handle search now, but will need to be tested and confirmed.

Microsoft.BingSearch_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Microsoft.Copilot_8wekyb3d8bbwe

MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy

EDIT: Solution 6 below looks promising for testing, but is for search indexing.

learn.microsoft.com

Fix problems in Windows Search - Windows Client

Provides troubleshooting options for problems that affect the search results for the Windows Search feature in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
learn.microsoft.com
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Brink said:
Hello Sumit, :alien:

I didn't find any of those paths in the latest W11 Canary build as well.

I found these packages below that may handle search now, but will need to be tested and confirmed.

Microsoft.BingSearch_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Microsoft.Copilot_8wekyb3d8bbwe

MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy

EDIT: Solution 6 below looks promising for testing.

learn.microsoft.com

Fix problems in Windows Search - Windows Client

Provides troubleshooting options for problems that affect the search results for the Windows Search feature in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
learn.microsoft.com
Click to expand...
Hi Shawn,

I tested and researched. It is the MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy folder which has the Search files. Pretty odd to see the naming though - CBS is usally for the component store
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 5590
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 1021U
SumitDhiman said:
Hi Shawn,

I tested and researched. It is the MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy folder which has the Search files. Pretty odd to see the naming though - CBS is usally for the component store
Click to expand...
I thought the same until looking at solution 6.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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