What Does Windows Search Do

How To Use Windows Search Service

The Windows Search Service is possibly one of the most used functions on your figurer. It indexes content, it caches property, and and so it provides search results for files, emails, and plenty of other content. Every mod version of Windows has the Windows Search Service—from Windows XP to the electric current Windows 10.

Looking for a Windows Search Service replacement? Learn more here.

Where to find Windows Search

Over the years, Microsoft has fabricated some changes to where the Windows Search Service is located, and has improved its functionality. In Windows XP and Windows Vista, the Windows Search Service, or desktop search, could be found by going through the Start button—then you would simply click on Starting time and then Search.
When Windows vii became available, the Windows search service was slightly unlike. To go to the Windows Search Service you lot accept to click the Start push button and then select Documents. Once Documents opens upwardly, you have to blazon the proper noun of the file you are looking for into the search box at the summit to search for it.

Major changes occurred when Windows 8 debuted. Information technology was a completely new await for the Windows search service and instead of beingness able to reach the desktop search through the Start Menu, yous have to swipe the screen to find information technology on the Charms Bar. Here's how you lot discover search on Windows 8:

From the right edge of your screen, swipe in
Now click on Search
Yous can likewise access the search from the Start screen
Type in what you are looking for and y'all should see search results and suggestions

In Windows viii y'all can besides use File Explorer. To get into File Explorer exercise this:

Swipe in from the right border again.
Click search again, and type in File Explorer
Click on File Explorer
Now in the window blazon in the name of the file or folder you are searching for

Microsoft changed things up once again with Windows 10 Search Service. Yous can use the search box on this version of Windows Search Service likewise to open upward File Explorer. With 10, you use File Explorer search like you practice in eight, but now you besides have Cortana, which can search your computer and the Internet for items you need. Cortana is known more as a personal banana, and you tin can turn off Cortana if you're worried about the corporeality of information Cortana collects. To plough Cortana off, follow these steps:

turn off cortana in windows 10

Click on the Ring icon to open Cortana
Click on the Notebook icon on the left mitt side.
Select Settings
Slide the picayune button to off, below where it says "Cortana can give you lot suggestions, reminders, alerts and more"
To change Cortana's information permissions, click the link that says "Manage what Cortana knows nigh me in the deject"

What Happens if the Windows Search Service is Turned Off?

Like many programs and features, Windows Search is a default function that is enabled from the become go. Y'all tin can always plow off the Windows Search Service, merely what exactly happens when y'all do that?

For starters, it can be difficult to tell exactly what programs will be affected by this decision, and what really relies on Windows Search Service. The obvious is that the search boxes will all disappear from your desktop. Any programme that relies on the Windows Search Service might have functionality bug (eg. Internet Explorer), and indexing will exist removed from the Control Panel. This may also affect any third party search apps that depend on Windows' ain search index

If this is something you would still like to try, and so y'all should acquire the proper manner to disable the Windows Search Service:

Disabling Windows Search Service

To disable search in Windows vii:

Go to Showtime and and then Control Panel
Find Programs and Features
On the left hand side click where information technology says "Turn Windows features on or off"
Uncheck the box next to Windows Search in the list of items
A message will appear asking if you are sure that y'all desire to continue. Click Yes
Now in the Windows Features window click OK
You volition now run into a progress bar. When information technology is complete, you will need to restart your reckoner

In one case these steps are followed you will notice that the Search Box volition be gone from the start menu.

With Windows 8 or Windows 10 it is more than about disabling the indexing, and every bit such, requires a different fix of steps. Here'due south what to practice to disable search indexing in Windows eight and 10:

Press Windows fundamental+R on your keyboard, which opens the Run dialog box
Enter services.msc and so click OK
This opens the Services window. Scroll downwardly the listing and then right click on Windows Search and cull Backdrop
In the Full general tab within the properties window you volition have to change the Startup blazon to disabled
Click OK so that the changes are saved and yous can exit.