Windows Start Menu & all Windows Search functions not working.

[Sleepless26]

Processor    AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Eight-Core Processor            3.70 GHz
Installed RAM    32.0 GB
Edition    Windows 10 Home
Version    21H1
Installed on    ‎9/‎16/‎2021
OS build    19043.1237
Experience    Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3530.0
Nvidia RTX 2070

The Issue:
When using the start menu, if I attempt to open any applications or folders it immediately closes the start menu.
When using file explorer I cannot use any search functions in any shape or form.
When attempting to use the search bar on the taskbar it immediately closes before I can type anything.

What I've done so far:
Restarted Windows Explorer
Restarted WSearch in services.
Booted into safe mode (Still doesn't work in safe mode)
Ran SFC /scannow (Found no issues with Windows)
Ran DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth
Ran Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} in Powershell

Trying to avoid resetting the PC but that seems like the only option at this point.

 

[emosun]

yeah just reinstall. remember to activate windows system restore next time so you can actually use it so this cant happen again.

[Sleepless26]

1 minute ago, emosun said:

yeah just reinstall. remember to activate windows system restore next time so you can actually use it so this cant happen again.

Pain, I did a system restore prior to the Windows update (10% space for Restore point) my restore points are either corrupted or got deleted due to the update. Either way really sucks.

[wayofthedude]

> SOLUTION AT END OF POST <

I'm having the same issue. Very similar hardware. 

Processor    AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Eight-Core Processor            3.70 GHz
Installed RAM    16.0 GB
Edition    Windows 10 Home Single Language
Version    20H2
Installed on    ‎9/‎12/‎2021
OS build    19042.1237
Experience    Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3530.0
GPU    Nvidia RTX 2060

And I've gone through all the same steps you have without results. Honestly I'm just annoyed that while trying to find a solution, I've found nothing but copy/paste tech articles recommending the same procedures. 

I had this issue when I was in the Beta Channel for Win11. I ended up reverting, but it crashed during the win10 reinstall. I had to do some lucky data rescuing using an wintool USB and cmd xcopy to transfer files from ssd to hdd -> format ssd -> fresh install windows -> move personal files back to ssd. It was some efi error. You can read more about it here on reddit

-------------------------------------
EDIT: Just checked event viewer and I'm seeing some errors.

Faulting application name: SearchApp.exe, version: 10.0.19041.1202, time stamp: 0xc9006c8b
Faulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll, version: 10.0.19041.1202, time stamp: 0xc9db1934
Exception code: 0x88985004
Fault offset: 0x000000000010be3e
Faulting process id: 0x2ebc
Faulting application start time: 0x01d7ab6a38c4bf72
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchApp.exe
Faulting module path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\KERNELBASE.dll
Report Id: 15ef436b-cd0d-4c33-a4b8-135736a5e99e
Faulting package full name: Microsoft.Windows.Search_1.14.2.19041_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy
Faulting package-relative application ID: CortanaUI

-------------------------------------
EDIT 2: I found a fix. 
1. winkey+r -> services.msc
2. Windows Fonts Cache Service -> disabled -> stop -> apply

And now my search bar works

[Sleepless26]

3 hours ago, wayofthedude said:

I'm having the same issue. Very similar hardware. 

Processor    AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Eight-Core Processor            3.70 GHz
Installed RAM    16.0 GB
Edition    Windows 10 Home Single Language
Version    20H2
Installed on    ‎9/‎12/‎2021
OS build    19042.1237
Experience    Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3530.0
GPU    Nvidia RTX 2060

And I've gone through all the same steps you have without results. Honestly I'm just annoyed that while trying to find a solution, I've found nothing but copy/paste tech articles recommending the same procedures. 

I had this issue when I was in the Beta Channel for Win11. I ended up reverting, but it crashed during the win10 reinstall. I had to do some lucky data rescuing using an wintool USB and cmd xcopy to transfer files from ssd to hdd -> format ssd -> fresh install windows -> move personal files back to ssd. It was some efi error. You can read more about it here on reddit

-------------------------------------
EDIT: Just checked event viewer and I'm seeing some errors.

Faulting application name: SearchApp.exe, version: 10.0.19041.1202, time stamp: 0xc9006c8b
Faulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll, version: 10.0.19041.1202, time stamp: 0xc9db1934
Exception code: 0x88985004
Fault offset: 0x000000000010be3e
Faulting process id: 0x2ebc
Faulting application start time: 0x01d7ab6a38c4bf72
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchApp.exe
Faulting module path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\KERNELBASE.dll
Report Id: 15ef436b-cd0d-4c33-a4b8-135736a5e99e
Faulting package full name: Microsoft.Windows.Search_1.14.2.19041_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy
Faulting package-relative application ID: CortanaUI

-------------------------------------
EDIT 2: I found a fix. 
1. winkey+r -> services.msc
2. Windows Fonts Cache Service -> disabled -> stop -> apply

And now my search bar works

Thank you, this worked for me!

[wayofthedude]

15 hours ago, Sleepless26 said:

Thank you, this worked for me!

Awesome! Hopefully you saw this before wiping your system lol. Idk how to mark the post as solved.