After I had done some changes in Windows 10 to make it faster and less "chatty" to Microsoft (switch off Telemetry, switch off error reporting etc.) I could not use search any more. Symptoms were:
- Can't type into Cortana search field
- Can't type to search in Start Menu
- Can't type to search in Win 10 App Store
- Can't type in taskbar search
- Can't type in Settings search
There are lots people with the same or similar issues as can be seen from a simple Internet search "win 10 taskbar search not working".
Unfortunately, from all the suggestions, nothing worked for me:
- Re-install Cortana (keyboard search should also work without Cortana, so that did not help)
- Kill the Cortana/Search process
- Rebuild the search index
- Re-install all default apps
- Restart the "Windows Search" service
- Run the "Search and Indexing" Troubleshooter
- Run system file checker (SFC) to search for currupted files
- Re-install the keyboard driver
After some hours of poking around, I found that I could right-click in the search field and paste the contents of the clipboard! And I saw the correct search results. So the index must have been fine. It looked like a keyboard issue, not a search issue.
But the keyboard worked in any application (e.g. Notepad, Excel etc.) just not in the searches. I started to suspect that it could be a Windows 10 "Modern Apps" issue. As I never use Modern Apps, I first had to load one (I chose "Calculator"), and - Bingo! - I could not enter any numbers via the keyboard. I could only click on the numbers, but could not type them.
I found that the keyboard did not work for any Windows 10 Modern Apps, just for the traditional desktop apps. Finally I found through some Internet searches how to solve this problem:
- Open Task Scheduler
- Go to Microsoft > Windows > TextServicesFramework
- On MsCtfMonitor, do a right-click and enable the task
- Restart your machine
That's it. All the search boxes worked again!
Update: If the task MsCtfMonitor is missing from the list of tasks, you can import it with the .XML file below:
Thanks to Rob for the tip.
C:\Windows\system32\ctfmon.exe
Or open cmd with admin and type : ctfmon.exe
that's work for me .
Thanks. It's work.
how to import the xml. file?
Just start "Task Scheduler" and then choose
Action > Import Task...
I only have the.dll format. I dont have the xml format. I dont know what to do. Please help.
it really works! thank you very much!
Where to open the task scheduler?
Right-click on the Start Menu and choose
Computer Management
In Computer Management, under System Tools, choose
Task Scheduler
Absolute champion.
I rarely leave replies on forums such as these, but for this, I feel a need to express my gratitude.
Thank you so much! You juste avoided me to reinstall my whole computer.
Thank you
Absolute-freakin-amazing!!!! Thank you soooo much!!s
Many many thanks.I was contemplating that my os was corrupt.
Youve just saved me a headache, past 30 mins searching and nothing then found the above .... winner !!
Well played... Thank you friend!
you saved my life :))
Thanks; This worked for me
Really helpful. I can't thank you enough!
WOW WOW WOW!!!!
after so long week, finely it's work,
I tried anythig,
Thank you Thank you Thank you :)
Hey it worked! :-) Happy camper here :-)
Great! Problem solved. Thank you very much.
oh its great! its really works thank you!
Thank you. Other solutions with the powershell and the like where not working.
life saver thnxs a lot man as all the people here i have also been searching for long for this solution tired many things before but this one hit the target - really really appreciated
thnxs again