How to Fix “Cortana Search not Working” in Windows 10

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By Victor Ashiedu

Published

Cortana Search not Working in Windows 10 [Fixed]

Introduction

This guide offers the fix for Cortana search not working in Windows 10. The reason for Cortana search not working in Windows 10 is likely that your PC may not have the required language pack.

Steps to Fix Cortana Search not Working

There are two high-level steps to fix Cortana search not Working in Windows 10.

Here are the steps covered in this guide:

  1. Download and install your language pack
  2. Set Default Language and Modify Language Settings

Download and Install Your Language Pack

 Fix Cortana Search not Working

The first step to fix Cortana search not Working in Windows 10 is to install the missing language pack.

Here are the steps…

  • Right-click Windows 10 start menu. Then select Settings.
Steps to Fix Cortana Search not Working
  • At Windows Settings select Time& language.
Steps to Fix Cortana Search not Working
  • When Date & time settings opens, click Language.
  • Then at Language settings, beneath Preferred languages check that your language is in the list. If your language is not in the list click Add a preferred language.
  • At the Choose a language to install screen, type the language in the search bar. Then select it from the list. To proceed, click Next.
  • On the next page, ensure that Install language pack is checked. Then click Install.
  • The language pack installation for the selected language will start. Wait for the installation to complete. Then proceed to the next step.
The installation will take a while to complete.

Fix Cortana Search not Working: Set Default Language and Modify Language Settings

Fix Cortana Search not Working: Set Default Language and Modify Language Settings

After installing the language pack for your preferred language, the final step to get Cortana search to work is to set the new language as your default language. You will also modify some additional settings.

Here are the detailed steps:

  • Back to Language settings, click on the new language pack you installed in the previous section. Then click the upward pointing arrow until the language is first in the list. The language will automatically set as default app language and default input language (see the second image below).
cortana search not working
  • Still on Language settings, scroll up. On the Windows display language drop-down select the new language you installed.
cortana search not working
  • You may be prompted to sign out and then back in for the new display language to take effect. DO NOT Sign out yet!
cortana search not working
  • Click Region. Then on the Country or region drop-down, select the country for the new language you just installed.
The language in Country or region MUST be the same as Windows display language.
  • Then click Speech and confirm that Speech Language is the same as Country or region and Windows Display language.

The final step is to configure Cortana to use the new language.

  • To modify Cortana settings, click Home.
  • Then at Windows Settings, click Cortana.
  • At Talk to Cortana settings, scroll down to Cortana Language. Then select the new language you installed.
  • Finally, restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
It is important to RESTART your PC. If you DO NOT restart the changes you made will NOT take effect!

Conclusion

After restarting your PC Cortana search not working should be fixed and Cortana search should start working.

I hope this guide was helpful to you. If it was, spare two minutes to share your experience with our community at [discourse_topic_url].

Also, if you have any questions regarding this article or if the steps did not work for you, please post your question at [discourse_topic_url]. Our team and other community members will come back to you with a fix as soon as possible.

Finally, if you want more Windows 10 fixes, visit our Windows 10 Fix page.

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About the Author

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Victor Ashiedu

Victor is the founder of InfoPress Media, publishers of ilifeguides.com and itechguides.com. With 20+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, his expertise spans Windows, Linux, and DevOps. Explore his contributions on Itechguides.com for insightful how-to guides and product reviews.

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