[Bug Fix] Search Box in Windows 10 File Explorer Stuck or Not Responding
This article is about an annoying bug and its fix/solution present in new updated Search box (which is now powered by Windows Search) in File Explorer of newer Windows 10 versions such as Windows 10 November 2019 Update version 1909. Suddenly the Search box stops working, it freezes or hangs and doesn’t accept any input. Nothing happens when you click inside the Search box. It becomes not responding and looks like it’s grayed out or someone disabled it using some kind of policies.
Recently we reviewed the new improved Search box in File Explorer of Windows 10. Now the Search box is powered by Windows Search to bring OneDrive support. Now you can search for online content stored in your OneDrive account as well as offline or local files stored on your computer system using the Search box present in File Explorer (also known as Windows Explorer, This PC and My Computer).
[Review] New Updated Search Box in File Explorer in Windows 10
Advertisement
As soon as you start typing in new Search box present in File Explorer toolbar, it starts showing content suggestions right from OneDrive account if you signed in. It also shows recent search entries in drop-down list. To get only local search results, you need to click on Arrow button or press Enter key which is quite annoying.
Table of Contents
Now let’s talk about a weird and irritating bug found in File Explorer Search box in Windows 10 newer versions.
Sometimes the Search box gets stuck or not responding in File Explorer. If you try to left-click or right-click inside Search box, nothing happens. It’s just not-clickable. After waiting for a few minutes it becomes responsive again and allows you to type inside it. Otherwise we need to close File Explorer window and re-open it or restart Explorer to fix this issue.
After some investigation, I was able to reproduce this bug and find out the culprit behind it. I was also able to fix this issue whenever it occurs.
In this article, I’m going to share what causes this bug or issue to occur and how to fix it?
First of all let’s discuss how and when does this Not Responding or Stuck issue occur in File Explorer Search box:
This bug or issue occurs if you click inside the Search box in File Explorer and select an entry shown in recent search history drop-down list. Remember to reproduce this bug, you need to select a recent search entry from drop-down box displaying in Search box. If you don’t have any recent search entry in Search box, search for something and then it’ll start showing in recent search list next time you click inside Search box.
Advertisement
As soon as you select a recent search entry shown in drop-down list in Search box and Windows 10 starts searching for it, click on Back button present in File Explorer toolbar to go to previous folder.
That’s it. Now try to click inside Search box and you’ll find that it has become not responding. It’ll be stuck and not clickable. You’ll be unable to left-click or right-click on Search box.
Following image shows the full bug live in action:
How to Fix Search Box Not Responding or Stuck in Windows 10 File Explorer?
I found that fixing this bug is very easy. No need to restart Explorer or log out. Actually when Search box becomes not responding, just press ESC key present on your keyboard and it’ll immediately fix the issue and Search box will immediately become responsive again. Now you’ll be able to type inside Search box.
It seems when we select a recent search entry and Windows 10 starts searching for it and we press Back button, Windows 10 keeps searching for the search term and doesn’t terminate the search process which makes the Search box not responding as it’s being used by Windows. As soon as we press ESC key, it ends the Search process and forces Search box to start accepting user input.
UPDATE: Following solution suggested by our reader “Peter Thomas” also helped many users in fixing this issue:
I have found out what also works is when you accidentally hit “Back” is to “go forward” again back to the search results. Then the search box also works again, even when you change the directory from there.
There’s one catch though. If you close the file explorer while the search box isn’t working, there is no way of getting back to those search results and you can’t fix the search box anymore.
You could kill all explorer processes, including the one that provides the taskbar, which I do not recommend because there is a better workaround:
The simplest solution is to go to “View -> Options -> Change folder and search options” and then under “View -> Advanced settings“, toggle “Launch folder windows in a separate process” option. It doesn’t matter if you have been using this option or not, simply enable or disable it.
Hit OK button and if the file explorer hasn’t restarted on its own, close it (just the current window, restarting the main explorer.exe that handles the taskbar is NOT necessary with this fix, this is the nice thing about it). Even with the Esc/Forward immediate fix, you might accidentally end up with a file explorer that is stuck, so changing the separate process thing is the only option left.
Also Check:
[Tip] Restore Old Classic Search Box in Windows 10 File Explorer (This PC)
How to Disable Display of Recent Search Entries in Windows Explorer Search Box?
Thanks a lot. Problem and solution clearly explained.
I’ve forgotten the use of the old ESC key.
This is a neat immediate fix. Thank you.
I have found out what also works is when you accidentally hit “back” is to “go forward” again back to the search results. Then the search box also works again, even when you change the directory from there.
There’s one catch though. If you close the file explorer while the search box isn’t working, there is no way of getting back to those search results and you can’t fix the search box anymore.
You could kill all explorer processes, including the one that provides the taskbar, which I do not recommend because there is a better workaround:
The simplest solution is to go to View->Options->”Change folder and search options” and then under View->”Advanced settings” toggle “Launch folder windows in a separate process”. It doesn’t matter if you have been using this option or not, simply enable or disable it. Hit “Ok” and if the file explorer hasn’t restarted on its own, close it (just the current window, restarting the main explorer.exe that handles the taskbar is NOT necessary with this fix, this is the nice thing about it). Even with the Esc/Forward immediate fix, you might accidentally end up with a file explorer that is stuck, so changing the separate process thing is the only option left.
BTW, this bug along with other file explorer search related issues is already fixed in the latest Insider Preview Builds. And it is expected that more issues will be fixed as well in Windows release version 2004.
blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2019/10/29/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-19013/
ESC did not fix for me, but Peter Thomas’ Explorer settings trick did. Thanks!
FEB 2020 :
ESC does not fix the problem for me either
Restarting the computer is the only option !!! I did it 10 minutes afgo and now the seach folder is non responsive AGAIn !
It’s REALLY annoying because I use the search folder function A LOT.
What an unacceptable bug in 2020 !!!! Even windows 3.1 back in 1995 did not have that sort of problem !!
Peter Thomas’ solution worked for me too
ESC did not work for me but Peter Thomas’ solution worked for me.
I had a problem with the search bar I can’t type or open the search box for access and same the file explorer’s search bar as well if you find a way to fix these issues
still not work