Microsoft OneDrive search aim to help you find files and folder that sit late within storage ride . It is sentence - consuming to find oneself them manually when OneDrive search is down or throw an error , be it on Windows personal computer or Android mobile . You may have tried to reboot your mobile or figurer , but that may not help always . Here are some troubleshooting steps and fixes to help get OneDrive Search to act quickly on Windows 11 .
If OneDrive Search Is Not Working on Windows
OneDrirve integrates deeply with the Windows File Explorer app to help you perform a hunt from anywhere . But there are a few reason why OneDrive lookup may not work , like indexation issues , lack of necessary permissions , memory cache , sync issues , and more .
Here are couple of things you need to check before you proceed to trouble-shoot :
1. Enable Cloud Content Search
By default option , Microsoft will only show the name of the leaflet or file in File Explorer but will not download and spare it on your Windows computer . This is done to deliver storage blank space . file are downloaded from your OneDrive history on demand when you open and edit out them . However , this sometimes leads to OneDrive hunting issues .
Because the file is not download and make unnecessary , it is not index by Windows . So , it does n’t appear in OneDrive hunting . There is a setting that you could enable to resolve this niggle to start the cloud content search lineament .
1.PressWindows headstone + Ito open options app . cluck onPrivacy & securityin the left sidebar .
2.Click onSearch permissionsin the good pane .
3.Under Cloud content search surgical incision , you need to enableMicrosoft accountsandWork or schooltime accountif you are using one to salt away Indian file in OneDrive .
you’re able to also incapacitate Files On - Demand feature article so the file cabinet are downloaded and stored on the PC drive , which help Windows to index those file . However , that make take up some storage space . Here ’s how to do that :
1.press theOneDrive iconin the Taskbar on the bottom - right corner . Then , select thecog iconand selectSettingsfrom the context menu .
2.SelectSync and backupfrom the odd sidebar . Then , flick onDownload all filesbutton to enable it .
take note : depend on your net speed and the act of file store in the swarm , it may take some metre before all the files are downloaded locally . Then , Windows will begin the indexing process which will further take some time .
2. Choose Folders to Sync
OneDrive need the necessary permission before it can sync folders . rent ’s speedily go through the folder list .
Like the previous surgical incision , go to OneDrive configurations on your Windows computer . UnderSync and backup , click onManage backupin the Backup crucial PC pamphlet to OneDrive .
Enable sync for folders that you want to sync to OneDrive cloud so they are available for search and accessible everywhere .
3. Sync Is Paused When Laptop Is in Battery Saver Mode or on Metered Connection
OneDrive will not sync single file if your laptop is in bombardment saver mode or on a metered connection ( mobile datum , for object lesson ) . Either tie to a Wi - Fi web or excite your laptop . If it is significant and you ca n’t wait , you could also change these preferences .
Go back to OneDrive preferences , and underSync and backup , you could enable or disable both options .
Also show : Do you also own an Android smartphone ? It is now super wanton totransfer files from your telephone set to your Windows PCusing this simple whoremonger .
4. Give Windows Permission to Index OneDrive Files
To put it just , Windows scan your computer and makes a catalogue of all the files including information like file name , file location , ticket , etc . So when you perform a search , it knows exactly where to attend . However , Windows will only index files in a folder if it has the necessary permissions to entree and index them . Let ’s check speedily .
1.Go to the OneDrive folder and decent - tap it to selectProperties .
2.In the pop - up that play along , get across onAdvancedbutton in theGeneraltab .
3.In yet another pop - up , ensure thatAllow filing cabinet in this pamphlet to have contents index in improver to lodge properitesoption is check .
5. Rebuild Index
1.select theWindows buttonin the Taskbar and search forIndexing Optionsand then give it .
2.Click onAdvancedbutton .
3.Click onRebuildbutton and Windows will get reindexing files and folders in the screen background .
6. Clear OneDrive Cache
If you have done that already , vamoose to the next stone’s throw . Otherwise , we would recommend you repeat the pace in case you have reindexed files though .
Right - pawl on theOneDrive iconin the Taskbar . You will receive theQuit OneDriveoption hidden in the Pause syncing drop - down menu .
When OneDrive quit , pressCtrl+Rto enter the Run command prompt . Copy - paste the command below and pressEnterto execute it .
Give it a minute and relaunch OneDrive to check out if the search works . You may have to sign in to OneDrive again .
7. Unlink and Relink OneDrive
Microsoft lets you bring multiple OneDrive accounts . But you need to link them to the PC first . If you have already linked the OneDrive write up , relinking might helpfix the OneDrive search and sync problems .
1.Go back toOneDrive Settingsfrom the Taskbar .
2.In theAccount tab , sink in onUnlink this PCbutton .
2.After that , close OneDrive . PressWindows key+Rto spread out the Run prompting and come in the below route .
3.When the folder opens , delete thePreSignInSettingsConfig.jsonfile from there .
4.Launch OneDrive again and ratify in using your Microsoft score detail , the one you use on the Windows PC .
5.If you see a prompting that saysThis folder already exists , selectUse this pamphlet . Basically , you desire to delete the same OneDrive booklet where all the files are write before . So , OneDrive wo n’t have to download all the files again , but only the miss ace while syncing and indexing .
8. Reset OneDrive
If all else has failed and OneDrive search is still not work , try reset OneDrive . This is a last holiday resort muddle . It is recommend that you take a backup of the files , thoughMicrosoft saysthat this will only reset the preferences and that the data will remain entire .
1.PressControl+Rto reach the Run prompting .
2.Copy - glue the command below and pressEnterto execute it .
3.You will in short see the Command Prompt open and then close . agree if OneDrive Search puzzle out normally . If not , tight Microsoft Store app if it is undefended .
4.PressControl+Rto spread out the Run prompting . Copy - paste the below command into it and pressEnterto execute it :
If you see theWindows can not finderror , use the command below and pressEnterto fulfill it :
face the same error again ? Then , try this bid instead and pressEnterto execute it :
5.Finally , relaunch OneDrive app . You may have to sign up back in .
If OneDrive Search Is Not Working on Browser
hear the below fixes if you are using the OneDrive web app in a web web browser while the hunting is broken and unable to return the lookup inquiry .
9. Sign Out and Sign Back In
10. Clear Browser Cache
We have written an in - depthguide on how to clear web internet browser cacheirrespective of what web internet browser you are using and on which operating system .
However , there is a keyboard shortcut if you want to do a hard refresh for just one site instead of deleting hoard for all sites .
you could also press and hold theControlkey on your keyboard and use the computer mouse to select theRefresh / Reloadbutton in the web browser app on the left side of the computer address bar .
11. Check Storage Space
deficiency of storage space may lead to unintended consequences like the one you present where the files are not searchable using the OneDrive search saloon . But it is easy to control how much storage space is left . Open OneDrive , and you will come up that information in the bottom - left corner of the sidebar .
One Life, One Drive
OneDrive is default cloud entrepot supplier that comes punt into Windows . While you may get OneDrive convenient to put in and sync you file , it ’s not precisely perfect . There are plenty of cloud storage serve providers likeGoogle Drive and Dropboxwith some unique features to declare oneself . Have you considered moving aside ?