Windows 10 Search Indexing does not search my Start Menu Programs

So as the title says my Windows Search doesn't search through my start menu programs.

This issue started yesterday out of nowhere. Recent changes I've done to my laptop recently are:
- Formatted my laptop (1 week ago)
- Ran every script in GitHub - W4RH4WK/Debloat-Windows-10: A collection of Scripts which disable / remove Windows 10 Features and Apps (1 week ago)
- Installed Notepad++ (yesterday)

It's also important to note I'm running Windows 10 Pro Insider (Beta Channel)

Something I've noticed is that I can find the 'Spotify' shortcut when searching, which is located in C:\Users\elias\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs but anything else in that folder can't be found.

Photos of my indexing options:


Thanks for any help.

dalchina said:

Hi, try Option 3:
Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10

It may be you have lost the appropriate locations in your search index locations.

Thanks for your reply, I've just tried this and waited for the indexing to complete. Unfortunately the issue still persists.

dalchina said:

Please confirm you used Option 3

Yes. I used the option with the Reset_and_Rebuild_Search_Index.bat
file

dalchina said:

Ok, Run the troubleshooter and post the result:



If ok, try this: with Indexing options open so you can see the number of items indexed, add one shortcut to

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

and see if the number of items indexed increments.

Also confirm indexed Windows search works from file explorer.. hopefully you know how to differentiate that from a non-indexed search.

If not, perhaps you have a permissions problem.

You say you are running an Insider build, so anything could happen. Do you know if, with that build, searching the start menu has ever worked?

Without knowing that, I'd question whether it's worth trying.

I tried troubleshooting, it said it resolved the issue, but the issue still persisted. (log is at the bottom)

Then I did what you said, I added a shortcut to the start menu folder, the index number increased, but I wasn't able to find it when searching

Finally I tried searching for the shortcut through the file explorer, it worked. I was able to find the Microsoft Word shortcut.

Code:

PrintSearch and Indexing Publisher details 

Issues found 
Windows Search is not workingWindows Search is not working
You can't enter a search or you get incomplete search results. Fixed Fixed 
Restart the Windows Search application. Completed 
 
Potential issues that were checked 
Incorrect permissions on Windows Search directoriesIncorrect permissions on Windows Search directories
When permissions on the Windows Search data directories are set incorrectly, the search service might not be able to access or update the computer's search index. This can result in slow searches or incomplete search results. Issue not present  
Search Filter Host process failedSearch Filter Host process failed
Problems with the Search Filter Host might indicate errors in the Windows Search service, which can cause searches to fail or return incomplete search results. Issue not present  
Windows Search service shut down unexpectedlyWindows Search service shut down unexpectedly
When the Windows Search service is forcibly shut down while performing maintenance, searches might fail or return incomplete search results. Issue not present  
Windows Search service shut down unexpectedlyWindows Search service shut down unexpectedly
When the Windows Search service is forcibly shut down, searches might fail or return incomplete search results. Issue not present  
Windows Search service not runningWindows Search service not running
When the Windows Search service is not running, searches might be slower, and you might not be able to find all items. Issue not present  
Windows Search service failedWindows Search service failed
Problems with the Windows Search service can cause searches to fail or return incomplete search results. Issue not present  
Search Protocol Host process failedSearch Protocol Host process failed
Problems with the Search Protocol Host might indicate errors in the Windows Search service, which can cause searches to fail or return incomplete search results. Issue not present  

Issues found Detection details 

6 Windows Search is not working Fixed Fixed 
 
You can't enter a search or you get incomplete search results. 
Restart the Windows Search application. Completed 
 
Reset the Windows Search process (SearchUI.exe), remove any Windows Search cache files and folders, and clear any Recent activity. 
 

Potential issues that were checked Detection details 

 Incorrect permissions on Windows Search directories Issue not present  
 
When permissions on the Windows Search data directories are set incorrectly, the search service might not be able to access or update the computer's search index. This can result in slow searches or incomplete search results. 
 
 Search Filter Host process failed Issue not present  
 
Problems with the Search Filter Host might indicate errors in the Windows Search service, which can cause searches to fail or return incomplete search results. 
 
 Windows Search service shut down unexpectedly Issue not present  
 
When the Windows Search service is forcibly shut down while performing maintenance, searches might fail or return incomplete search results. 
 
 Windows Search service shut down unexpectedly Issue not present  
 
When the Windows Search service is forcibly shut down, searches might fail or return incomplete search results. 
 
 Windows Search service not running Issue not present  
 
When the Windows Search service is not running, searches might be slower, and you might not be able to find all items. 
 
 Windows Search service failed Issue not present  
 
Problems with the Windows Search service can cause searches to fail or return incomplete search results. 
 
 Search Protocol Host process failed Issue not present  
 
Problems with the Search Protocol Host might indicate errors in the Windows Search service, which can cause searches to fail or return incomplete search results. 
 

Detection details Expand 

InformationalDirectory 
Windows Search data directory 
Directory: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\ 
 
InformationalDirectory 
Windows Search data directory 
Directory: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\ 
 
InformationalUser-reported problems 
Problem Type: FilesMissingProblem 
 
InformationalUser-reported problems 
Problem Type: FilesMissingProblem 
 
Collection information 
Computer Name:  ELAPTOP 
Windows Version: 10.0 
Architecture: x64 
Time: Saturday, July 4, 2020 3:12:37 PM 

Publisher details Expand 

Search and Indexing 
Find and fix problems with Windows Search 
Package Version: 1.0 
Publisher: Microsoft Windows 
Search and Indexing 
Find and fix problems with Windows Search 
Package Version: 1.0 
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation

dalchina said:

How are you performing the search that fails? Screenshot please.

Possible example:



Do you have a system restore point you could use?

I assume that also means searches for items in the start menu worked before that with this build.

So I tried doing a system restore from 2 days ago. The issue wasn't resolved.
Then I system restored to 5 days ago, right after I formatted my laptop. The issue is now fixed, but most of my apps have been uninstalled. No idea why search wasn't working.

Anyways, thank you so much for your help, it's kind people like you that make the internet wonderful.