Keyboard Is Not Working on Windows Search Menu: Fix it Now!

This topic is catching fire daily as many users started complaining that after the recent Windows 11 patch update, the keyboard automatically goes into manual mode, and users cannot use it while searching using the Windows search menu. Well, it is quite unknown why this happens, but that doesn’t mean that we do not have anything for you.

So, don’t worry, as we have some fixes to this issue that will again help you type on your Windows search bar. Therefore, let’s check out how to fix the keyboard not working on the Windows search menu issue.

Top Ways to Keyboard Not Working on Windows Search Menu

In some cases, Windows Search does not work. When you click on it, you don’t see a search panel appear. However, there are others who can’t type anything into the search box. As a result, the search box is blank, and no results are displayed despite others typing in the search bar. So, let’s see how to fix it:

Fix 1: Restart Your Device

Initially, you have to reboot your system to make sure that the keyboard doesn’t stop working due to the cache memory. Yes, by rebooting your device, the RAM will get flushed, and your system will get a fresh new start to function properly. So, to remove the cache memory junks, you must reboot your device and check if the issue gets resolved or not.

Fix 2: Enable Search Service

Did you try rebooting your device and still get the same error? Well, don’t worry! You can re-enable the keyboard for the Windows search bar via search services. Sometimes, the keyboard input is set to manual instruction automatically and stops working properly due to random bugs. So, setting it up to Automatic will be the right option in this situation. However, to do so,

1. Initially, open the Task Manager using the Ctrl+Alt+Esc altogether.
2. Then, tap on the Services tab and click on Open Services.
3. Now, locate the Touch Keyboard And Handwriting Panel on the new window and double-click on it.
4. After that, tap on the General tab and set the Startup Type option to Automatic.
5. Then finally, under the Services Status, hit the Start button. Thereafter, tap on the Apply > Ok.

That’s it. Now, close everything and open the Windows Search to check whether you are able to type or not. Most probably, this method will work for you.

Fix 3: Restart Windows Explorer

Suppose in case fix number 2 is not working in your case (although chances are very low), then you can try restarting the Windows Explorer on your Windows system. There are many users who have reported that this helped them to resolve this kind of error. So, if your keyboard is not working on the Windows Search menu and you want to restart your Windows Explorer, then use these steps:

1. You can simply open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Esc altogether.
2. Then, tap on More Details and go to the Processes tab.
3. Afterward, scroll down and locate Windows Explorer.
4. Then, right-click on it and select the Restart option.

There it is. You have successfully rebooted your Windows Explorer, and now it’s time to check whether or not the keyboard starts working while you are typing in the Windows Search menu. If it is not fixed, then do the same with Search processes.

Fix 4: Run CTFMON.exe

In Windows 11, CTFMON.EXE inspects the keyboard, speech, handwriting, and similar input services that are processing on your system. However, if Windows Search does not allow you to type, you must enable it. So, to do this,

1. Right-click on the Windows Start menu and select Run.
2. Now, using Run search for C:\Windows\System32\ctfmon.exe.

That’s it. Now, hopefully, after doing this, Windows Search will open, and you will be able to type it using the keyboard.

Fix 5: Try Rebuilding Search Index

Windows Search can sometimes have problems because of old or broken indexes. Rebuilding the search index will fix it. This is because many users reported that this helped them, fixing when the keyboard is not working on Windows Search Menu. So, why should you not give it a try? Therefore, let’s see how to do this,

1. Go to Start Menu > Windows System > Control Panel to open Control Panel.
2. You can choose either Small Icons or Big Icons from the View by mode in the Control Panel.
3. Choose Indexing Options.
4. In the Indexing Options section, click on Advanced.
5. To rebuild, click the Rebuild button. Please wait for the indexing process to be completed by your computer. You will then need to restart your computer.

Fix 6: Try Troubleshooting Windows Search

If you are yet to run the Windows troubleshooter in order to resolve the typing issue with your keyboard, then you must do it as it has the potential that can easily fix this kind of error for you. To do so,

1. Open the Windows Settings.
2. Tap on the System tab.
3. Afterward, select the Troubleshoot option.
4. Then, tap on the Other Troubleshooters option.
5. Now hit the Run button located next to Search & Indexing.

Fix 7: Via Windows Powershell

You can also fix this problem using Windows PowerShell. Moreover, we have also seen in the Microsoft community forum that users successfully resolve this issue using Windows Powershell. Therefore, you must try this using the steps mentioned below:

1. First of all, Open Windows PowerShell using admin rights.
2. Afterward, execute the command:

   Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like "*SystemApps*"} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Now, once the command executes successfully, simply reboot your system and check if the keyboard is not working on the Windows Search menu issue is fixed or not.

Fix 8: Contact Microsoft Support

Don’t get mad if you still find that you cannot type using your Keybaord on the Windows Search bar, as we have one more fix for you. Well, it is not a fix but a suggestion; you can simply contact Microsoft’s official customer support team by email or live chat. After that, wait until the officials contact you regarding this problem. They will surely help you fix this annoying error for you.

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