You can utilize the Chrome Cleanup tool to scan your system for potentially harmful software. However, you might encounter the error message: Search failed An error occurred while Chrome was searching for harmful software. MiniTool Software presents the most common causes behind this problem and offers practical fixes to resolve it.

Main Causes of the "Search Failed" Error in Chrome Cleanup Tool

The Chrome Cleanup tool helps detect and eliminate malicious programs from your PC. Yet, users often see the error Search failed An error occurred while Chrome was searching for harmful software during a scan.

Why does this happen? Here are the three primary reasons:

• Google Chrome version is outdated.
• Browser data such as cookies or cache is damaged.
• The Chrome browser installation is corrupted.

Based on these potential causes, we’ve prepared three effective solutions. If you're unsure which one applies to your case, try them in order.

If your system is infected with malware or viruses, it's recommended to run a full system scan using trusted antivirus software. In case important files are lost during troubleshooting, MiniTool Power Data Recovery – a reliable data recovery tool – can help restore them.

How to Fix the "Search Failed" Error During Chrome Malware Scan?

1. Update Google Chrome
2. Clear Chrome Cookies and Cache
3. Reinstall Google Chrome

Fix 1: Update Google Chrome

Google frequently releases updates to enhance stability, performance, and security. If you're using an older version of Chrome, you're more likely to face the an error occurred while chrome was searching for harmful software error. Updating to the latest version may fix this issue.

1. Launch Google Chrome.
2. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
3. From the left sidebar, select About Chrome.
4. Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them if available. This may take a few moments.

5. Once the update completes, click Relaunch to restart the browser.

After restarting, try running the Chrome Cleanup tool again to see if the error is resolved. If the problem continues, proceed to the next solution.

Fix 2: Clear Chrome Cookies and Cache

Cookies store session data between your browser and websites, while the cache helps pages load faster. However, if either becomes corrupted, it may trigger the an error occurred while chrome was searching for harmful software message.

Follow these steps to clear browsing data:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the three-dot menu > More Tools > Clear browsing data.
3. Switch to the Advanced tab, set the Time Range to All Time, and select all data types (including cookies and cached images). Make sure to back up saved passwords and login details before proceeding.
4. Click Clear Data. Confirm the action if prompted.

After clearing the data, restart Chrome and attempt the cleanup scan again.

If the issue persists, reset Chrome settings:

1. Click the three-dot menu and go to Settings.
2. Expand Advanced and select Reset and Clean Up.
3. Choose Restore settings to their original defaults, then confirm.

Restart Chrome and test the cleanup tool once more.

Fix 3: Reinstall Google Chrome

If previous methods fail, the browser itself may be corrupted. Reinstalling Chrome can resolve deep-seated issues.

1. Click Start.
2. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
3. Locate Google Chrome in the list and click Uninstall.
4. Open File Explorer and navigate to: %LocalAppData%\Google\
5. Delete the Chrome folder.
6. Reboot your computer.
7. Use another browser to visit the official Chrome website and download the latest version.
8. Install the downloaded setup file.

Once installation is complete, open Chrome and use the cleanup tool to scan for harmful software.

By following the above steps, the Search failed An error occurred while Chrome was searching for harmful software error should be resolved. If you continue to face issues or have additional questions, feel free to leave a comment below. We’ll respond as quickly as possible.

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