Fix: Is Windows Search Too Slow? Speed It Up

Utilizing the Windows Search feature allows for swift identification of content in the deepest corners of your Windows 11/10 PC. When Search Indexing is enabled, you can use the ability to search for any file or folder. However, for some customers, the feature does not operate well as they claim that Start Menu Search is too slow and is interfering with their productivity. So, in this article, we will discuss this problem and how to resolve it.

Basic Troubleshooting

• Restart PC: Before you move on to the fixes to troubleshoot the issue, try restarting your computer, as this simple approach might be all you need to quicken Windows Search.
• Restart File Explorer: If restarting your PC did not help, try restarting File Explorer. Open Task Manager, right-click on Windows Explorer under Apps, and select the Restart option from the context menu.

Fix: Is Windows Search Too Slow? Speed It Up

If the basic troubleshooting methods did not help you with the problem of a slow Windows Search, try the five fixes given below to resolve the issue:

1. Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter
2. Restart Windows Search Service
3. Disable Web Search on the Start Menu Using the Registry
4. Rebuild Windows Search Index
5. Restart searchhost.exe Process

You will need an administrator account to execute these suggestions.

1] Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter 

In this method, we will run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter and let it scan and repair any problems with your Windows Search. The steps for running Search and Indexing Troubleshooter are as follows.

• Open Windows Settings (Win + I)
• Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters from the menu.
• Scroll down, find the Search and Indexing troubleshooter, and press the Run button.

• Once the troubleshooter completes the process, check whether the Windows Search is still slow.

2] Restart Windows Search Service

This method will restart Windows Search Service through the Services program. This will wash out any bugs in the service and resolve the problem. This is how to restart Windows Search Service:

• Press the Windows key + R, type services.msc, and click OK to open the Services app.

• In the Services window, scroll down and locate the Windows Search service. Next, right-click on it and select the Restart option from the context menu.

After the process, close the Services app and check whether the Windows Search feature is still slow.

Read: How to save frequent Windows Search in Window

3] Disable Web Search on the Start Menu Using the Registry

You would have probably noticed that when you search for something in the Start Menu, you get results from your computer and the internet. One of the reasons Search is so slow on your computer is that it also searches the internet for your results.

You can disable it using the Registry Editor to speed up your search. So, this is how you disable web search on the Start menu using the Registry:

• Open Registry Editor and copy navigate to the path given below:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

• Right-click on the empty part of the Windows on the right, choose New > Key, and rename it to Explorer.

• Right-click the newly created key Explorer, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and rename it to DisableSearchBoxSuggestions.
• To open the DisableSearchBoxSuggestions value, double-click it, set the Value data to 1, and click OK.

Read: Fix: Can’t Type in the Windows Search Bar

4] Rebuild Windows Search Index

The built-in Search Indexing in Windows supports a wide range of file types. As a result, when you type a term into the search bar and ask Windows to look for it, it searches all the listed file types, which takes a long time.

If you are sure you will not use this feature to search for a specific file type, you should exclude it from Indexing and rebuild it. This is how you rebuilt Windows Search Index:

• Open Settings (Win + I) and navigate to Privacy & security > Searching Windows.

• Scroll down and locate the heading Related settings. Next, click on the link Advanced indexing options.
• In the Indexing Options window, click on the Advanced button. Click the Rebuild button next to the Delete and Rebuild index in the Advanced Options window.

After the process, click OK and check whether the Windows Search is still slow.

5] Restart Searchhost.exe Process

When you are not using the Windows search bar, the search bar operation is paused in the background. The procedure starts automatically when you try to input something in the search field. However, if it fails, your search bar will not function. The good news is that you may quickly resume the process.

• Open Task Manager and click on the Details tab. Next, scroll down and find the SearchHost.exe process. Right-click it and choose End process from the context menu.

After you have completed the task, check whether the Windows Search process is still slow.

Conclusion

Windows Search has some flaws, and the fixes listed in the post can help you speed up a slow Windows Search. You can do a few techniques to simplify things, ranging from slow searches to searches that do not perform at all. In some circumstances, easy remedies are available, such as running the troubleshooter or restarting the computer.

How Do I Make Windows Search Index Faster?

Avoid irrelevant folders to speed up indexing. Remove infrequently used file types for better performance. Optimize your drive for improved indexing. Disable unnecessary background apps to free up resources and speed up the process. Increase Search Indexer priority in Task Manager for more efficient indexing. Customize indexing settings to manage size and speed. Keep Windows up to date for the latest search enhancements.