Gray bar in Windows search

If you’re encountering a gray bar or issues with the Windows search bar, there are several potential solutions you can try to resolve the problem. Here’s a step-by-step guide to address the gray bar issue in Windows search:

Solution 1: Restart Windows Explorer:

1. Right-click on the taskbar.
2. Select “Task Manager.”
3. In the “Processes” tab, locate “Windows Explorer.”
4. Right-click on “Windows Explorer” and choose “Restart.”

This action will refresh the Windows Explorer process and may resolve the issue.

Solution 2: Rebuild the Windows Search Index:

1. Open “Control Panel” and go to “Indexing Options.”
2. Click on “Advanced.”
3. In the “Index Settings” tab, click on “Rebuild.”

Allow the indexing process to complete, and this may fix search-related problems.

Solution 3: Check Windows Search Service:

1. Press `Win + R` to open the Run dialog.
2. Type “services.msc” and hit Enter.
3. Locate “Windows Search” in the list.
4. Right-click on “Windows Search” and choose “Restart” or “Start” if it’s not running.

Solution 4: Update Windows:

Ensure that your Windows operating system is up to date. Microsoft frequently releases updates that address various issues.

1. Open “Settings” (Win + I).
2. Go to “Update & Security.”
3. Click on “Windows Update” and check for updates.

Solution 5: Check for Corrupted System Files:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run the following command:
bash
sfc /scannow

This will scan and repair corrupted system files.

Solution 6: Create a New User Profile:

If the issue persists, creating a new user profile might help:

1. Open “Settings” (Win + I).
2. Go to “Accounts.”
3. Under “Family & other users,” click on “Add someone else to this PC.”
4. Follow the prompts to create a new user account.

Log in to the new account and check if the search bar works properly.

Solution 7: Reset Windows Search Settings:

1. Open “Settings” (Win + I).
2. Go to “Search” and click on “Searching Windows.”
3. Click on “More Search Indexer Settings.”
4. Click on “Advanced.”
5. In the “Advanced Options” window, click on “Restore Defaults.”

Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Also you can try from Registry Editor:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search]
“CortanaConsent”=dword:00000000
“BingSearchEnabled”=dword:00000000

 

Try these solutions step by step, and hopefully, one of them will help you resolve the gray bar issue in Windows search. If the problem persists, it might be worth checking Microsoft forums or seeking assistance from their support.

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