Windows 10 Start Menu search not working for installed apps

Question

I am facing a problem with Windows 10 OS Home Edition, updated 14th August 2017 [Yesterday]. I am not able to search installed applications.

NOTE: I ran every command and program as administrator

1. Deleting and Rebuilding the indexes

2. Verifying that both

   C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
   are included in indexing.

3. Running Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

4. Restarting Cortana application and Windows search service

5. Restarted Explorer app
6. Restarted the system

Nothing working

I recently found out that there is strong connection between

C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_randomsuffix\LocalState\ConstraintIndex\Apps_{some-uuid}

and the

Search Results

If i make changes to the file Apps.index in directory Apps_{some-uuid} just like renaming it, search doesn't find apps that were coming in results before.

Solution

Below are some more hacks :

1. Run sfc scannow.
2. Run Microsoft's Start menu troubleshooter
3. Create a new local administrator account as explained here. The Start Menu is sometimes fixed by even only logging out of current account, sign into new account, wait a few minutes, then sign out of new account and log in back to your account.
4. Rename the file C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\UsrClass.dat and reboot.
5. Disable UAC and reboot.
6. Reset or Refresh the Windows 10 installation (destructive!) as described here.
7. Reinstall Windows.
8. Forget about the problematic Windows Start Menu and use a reliable third-party product. My personal recommendation is the free Classic Shell.

Comments

[miroxlav]

Deletion of system files without clear understanding can have unpredictable effects on stability and reliability and therefore this advice is not recommended. Also, viola is a musical instrument or a tiny flower. As something has told: If peo­ple can’t remem­ber if it’s “Viola” or “Voilà!” then per­haps they can shout, “Ta-da!”

[DeerSpotter]

@miroxlav give the kid a break, we all learned somehow.

[groovenectar]

Thanks for the tip on Classic Shell! I tried a few other things to no avail, and my favorite solution ended up being to replace the whole start menu with Classic Shell. Worked as soon as it was installed. Digging the Midnight theme!