Restart the Windows Search service by opening services.msc, setting it to Automatic, and starting it; 2. Run the Search and indexing troubleshooter via Settings to fix common issues; 3. Rebuild the search index through Indexing Options in Control Panel to resolve corruption; 4. Run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to repair corrupted system files, and if needed, use DISM to restore system health; 5. Check Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise editions) to ensure search indexing isn’t disabled under Windows Components; 6. Create a new user profile to determine if the issue is profile-specific, and if search works there, migrate your data. Most cases are resolved by restarting the service or rebuilding the index, and ensuring Windows and drivers are up to date completes the fix.
If you're seeing a message like "Search indexing was turned off" on your Windows PC, it means the Windows Search service isn't running or has been disabled—this affects how quickly you can find files, apps, or settings. Here’s how to fix it step by step.

? 1. Restart the Windows Search Service
The most common fix is to manually restart the service.
- Press
Win R
, typeservices.msc
, and press Enter. - In the Services window, scroll down and find Windows Search.
- Right-click on it and select Properties.
- Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic.
- If the service is not running, click Start under Service status.
- Click Apply, then OK.
- Restart your computer and check if search works.
? If the service won’t start, you may need to run a system repair (see below).
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? 2. Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter
Windows includes a built-in tool to diagnose search issues.
- Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find Search and indexing, then click Run.
- Follow the prompts and apply any recommended fixes.
This tool can detect common problems like corrupted index files or service conflicts.

? 3. Rebuild the Search Index
If the index is corrupted, rebuilding it often helps.
- Open Control Panel > Indexing Options.
- Click Advanced.
- Under the Index Settings tab, click Rebuild in the Troubleshooting section.
- Confirm and wait—this may take a while depending on how many files you have.
? Note: Rebuilding clears the old index and starts fresh. It improves accuracy but takes time.
? 4. Run System File Checker (SFC)
Corrupted system files can disable search indexing.
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
- Press
Win
, type "cmd", right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
- Press
- Type this command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
- Wait for the scan to finish (can take 15–30 minutes).
- If issues are found and fixed, restart your PC and check search.
?? If SFC doesn’t help, also try:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthThen run
sfc /scannow
again.
? 5. Check Group Policy (For Pro/Enterprise Editions)
If you're on Windows Pro or Enterprise, Group Policy might have disabled indexing.
- Press
Win R
, typegpedit.msc
, press Enter. - Navigate to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search
- Look for Allow indexing of encrypted files or Prevent indexing of files.
- Make sure they’re set to Not Configured or Disabled.
?? This step doesn’t apply to Windows Home unless you’ve manually enabled Group Policy.
? 6. Create a New User Profile (If Problem Persists)
Sometimes, the issue is tied to your user profile.
- Create a new temporary user account with admin rights.
- Log into that account and test search.
- If search works, the problem is with your original profile—consider migrating data.
Final Notes
- Make sure Windows is up to date. Install the latest updates via Settings > Windows Update.
- Third-party antivirus tools can interfere with indexing—temporarily disable them to test.
- If nothing works, a repair install of Windows (in-place upgrade) can fix deep system issues without losing files.
Basically, most "search indexing was turned off" issues come down to the Windows Search service being stopped or corrupted. Restarting the service and rebuilding the index resolves it in most cases.
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