Start by enabling the Windows Search service via services.msc, setting it to Automatic and starting it manually if needed. 2. Rebuild the search index through Indexing Options in Advanced search settings to fix corruption. 3. Run the built-in Search and Indexing Troubleshooter to detect common issues like service, index, or permission problems. 4. For Pro/Enterprise editions, check Group Policy settings under Windows Components to ensure indexing is not disabled. 5. Re-register search components using PowerShell with the Get-AppXPackage command in admin mode. 6. Address underlying system issues by running sfc /scannow, chkdsk C: /f /r, and DISM commands to repair disk and system file errors. After completing these steps, restart your PC and allow time for re-indexing, ensuring adequate disk space and checking that antivirus or optimization tools aren’t interfering with the search service.
If you're seeing a message like "Search indexing was turned off" on your Windows PC, it usually means the Windows Search service isn't running or has been disabled. This can make searching in File Explorer slow or non-functional. Here's how to fix it:

? 1. Enable the Windows Search Service
The most common cause is that the Windows Search service is turned off.
Steps:

- Press
Win R
, typeservices.msc
, and press Enter. - In the Services window, scroll down and find Windows Search.
- Double-click it to open its properties.
- Set Startup type to Automatic.
- If the service isn’t running, click Start under Service status.
- Click Apply, then OK.
- Restart your computer and test search.
? If the service won’t start, it may be corrupted — we’ll cover fixes below.
? 2. Rebuild the Search Index
Sometimes the index is corrupted. Rebuilding it often resolves search issues.

Steps:
- Open Settings → Search → Searching Windows.
- Click on Advanced search indexer settings.
- Click Indexing Options → Advanced.
- Under the Troubleshooting section, click Rebuild.
- Confirm and wait — this may take a while depending on how much data you have.
? During rebuilding, search results will be incomplete. Let it run in the background.
? 3. Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter
Windows includes a built-in tool to diagnose search problems.
Steps:
- Go to Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters.
- Find Search and Indexing, click Run.
- Follow the prompts and apply recommended fixes.
This can detect issues like:
- Service not running
- Index corruption
- Permission problems
? 4. Check Group Policy (For Pro/Enterprise Editions)
If you're on Windows Pro or Enterprise, Group Policy might have disabled indexing.
Steps:
- Press
Win R
, typegpedit.msc
, press Enter. - Navigate to:
Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Search - Look for:
- Allow indexing of encrypted files → Set to Enabled
- Don't allow locations to be added to library → Ensure it's Not Configured or Disabled
- Allow Cortana or Allow search in File Explorer — check if restricted
? Home users don’t have
gpedit.msc
by default. Skip this unless you’ve installed it.
? 5. Use PowerShell to Re-register Search Components
Sometimes the issue lies with corrupted app packages.
Steps:
- Right-click Start → Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
- Run this command:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
- Wait for it to complete (ignore minor errors).
- Restart your PC.
This re-registers core Windows apps, including search components.
? 6. Check for Disk Errors or Permissions
A failing drive or corrupted system files can break indexing.
Run these:
-
SFC Scan:
Open Admin Command Prompt → typesfc /scannow
-
CHKDSK:
chkdsk C: /f /r
(restart may be required) -
DISM:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
These fix underlying system issues that might prevent the search service from working.
Final Notes
- After enabling the service and rebuilding the index, give it time to re-index files.
- Make sure your drive isn’t running out of space — indexing fails silently if storage is low.
- Antivirus or third-party optimization tools sometimes disable Windows Search — check their settings.
Basically, start with the Windows Search service, then rebuild the index. Most cases are fixed with those two steps. The rest are for deeper or persistent issues.
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