Windows Search (WSearch) Service Defaults in Windows 11
Provides content indexing, property caching, and search results for files, e-mail, and other content.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Automatic |
| Display name: | Windows Search |
| Service name: | WSearch |
| Service type: | own |
| Error control: | normal |
| Object: | LocalSystem |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\system32\SearchIndexer.exe /Embedding |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WSearch |
| Privileges: |
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Default Behavior
Windows Search is a Win32 service. In Windows 11 it starts automatically during the operating system startup. Then the Windows Search service logs on as LocalSystem and running in its own process of SearchIndexer.exe. If Windows Search fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the WSearch service startup failure.
Dependencies
Windows Search cannot be started, if the following services won't start:
If Windows Search doesn't work properly, the following services will not start:
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Windows Search
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Windows Search depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Copy the commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config WSearch start= auto
sc start WSearch
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The WSearch service is using the SearchIndexer.exe file that is located in the C:\Windows\system32 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 11 installation media.