If you are unable to type in your Windows 10 Search Box, then you are not alone. Many users are facing this problem. But, No need to worry as there is a simple Fix for this Problem. Before trying any fix just try to enable the Firewall, if it is disabled. For some users this have fixed the problem.
Fix 1 – Using RUN command box
1. Press Windows key + R key Together to Open RUN.
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2. Write C:\Windows\system32\ctfmon.exe in it click OK.
If this fixes the problem, that means ctfmon.exe was not running on your PC. In that case do one thing:-
1. Press Windows key + R together from your keyboard.
2. Type taskschd.msc in it and click OK.
3. Browse to the following location in left menu.
Microsoft > Windows > TextServicesFramework
4. Now, in the right side , right click on MsCtfMonitor and choose enable.
Fix 2 – Using Powershell
1. Press CTRL + SHIFT + Esc Keys together to Open Task manager.
2. Now, Go to File > Run New Task.
3. Check Box saying Create this Task with administrative privileges.
4. Write Powershell in it and Click OK.
5. Copy and paste the code given below in Powershell window and hit enter key.
$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest
6. Close the Powershell window after the execution completes.
7. Restart your Computer.
Fix 3 – Using Command Prompt
1. Open Command Prompt as Admin. Press Windows key + R key together and open run command box. Now, type cmd in it and Press CTRL + SHIFT + Esc keys together at once from your keyboard.
2. Copy and paste the code given below and Hit enter.
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
3. Now, Copy and paste the code given below and execute the command by pressing enter key.
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like "*SystemApps*"} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
4. Restart your Computer.
Fix 4 – Restart File explorer
1. Right click on Taskbar.
2. Click on task manager.
3. Locate windows explorer.
4. Right click on it and choose restart.
Fix 5 – Turn on touch keyboard and handwriting service
1. Right click on start button.
2. Click on Computer management
3. Double click on Services and Applications to expand it.
4. Now, click on Services.
5. Now, locate touch keyboard and handwriting service in the right.
6. Click on start and change startup type to automatic.
7. Click on Apply and click on OK.
Saurav is associated with IT industry and computers for more than a decade and is writing on The Geek Page on topics revolving on windows 10 and softwares.
Anonymous says
I was searching for a solution of following problem from last 2 days, I literally tried everything but nothing worked for me, Then here in comments i saw Karan’s comment and tried it. Now finally its fixed. Thanks Man.
Nkosana says
Thanks. Method 1 solved the issue.
Ralph says
Awesome! Fix 2 worked for me. Greatly appreciate your expertise!
Guy Fawkes says
thankyou so much. Your last point fixed the problem. Continue the good work.
rahul says
None of the above solutions worked for me and then tried karan’s solution by starting the touch keyboard and handwriting services, and voila. All good now
Kevin O says
None of the steps above helped me. However, since I had just copied over a user’s profile to their new system, I looked at the c:\users\\Searches\ folder and found that there were items listed there. I deleted them as they came from the user’s old system and restarted the system (in retrospect, a restart of File Explorer might have been enough) and now I can type, search, and launch commands from the start menu again.
Hope this helps someone else in the future
Vignesh M says
Thank you so much. Woooow, you saved my soul and so happy finnaly restarting file explorer worked for me . thank you so much.
Martin Ross says
Try creating a new user account and see if search works. It worked for my admin account but not for my standard user account. But it did work when I created a new, local account.
So I migrated my original profile to the new account with ForensiT User Profile Wizard Personal Edition (free). Then I deleted the original user account and used Control Panel to rename the new account to the name I had been using before.
All my apps work and all the documents, desktop and personal files are all as they were. The only thing that wasn’t perfect in the migration was all the default apps reverted to the original so web browser went back to Edge, pictures defaulted to Photos, music to Grove etc. But it was easy to set them back to my personal preferences.
Nath says
Thank you for sharing the Fix 1, I’m really really thankful. it is because the power shell doesn’t work on my computer. Thanks!
tony says
odd in my case, starting the ctfmon worked but the scheduled task was already enabled.
LilyM says
thanks! it helps a lot.
monk says
The last step worked after restarting the windows explorer
karan says
i had same problem none methods fixed it but then i start a service which is stopped …which is……..
touch keyboard and handwriting services .
turn it on and then you can write in search bar… id that helped plz let me know
Anonymous says
bruh you cant type taskschudeler if you dont haev serach bar
Filipe Madureira says
Regarding fix 3, why’s that?”
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like “*SystemApps*”} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
Are we simply disabling development mode in all windows store apps? Why? I like when users are given an explanation and not a list of commands to try without context nor explanation.