microsoft has released a server-side fix for a known issue affecting the Start menu search on some windows 11 23H2 devices. The problem started on April 6 and was linked to a Bing update aimed at improving search performance. Microsoft has rolled back the update and reports that search errors are decreasing as the fix takes effect.
An investigation found that the issue coincided with a server-side Bing update intended to improve search performance. To fix the issue, the update was rolled back and reports of search failures are gradually decreasing, according to a Windows release status update from Microsoft.
How Microsoft’s solution reaches affected devices
Affected devices display blank or non-functional results when using Start menu search. Microsoft claims the issue is limited to a small number of users, but reports of similar issues have been shared online for several months. These reports include cases of blank search results that are clickable even though they do not display any content.
No need to install manual updates. The fix is automatically deployed as a server-side change. Microsoft notes that two conditions must be met for the fix to apply: the device must be connected to the Internet, and web search must not have been disabled via group policy. Devices that meet both conditions will receive the solution automatically.
Current Windows 11 Start Menu Issues That Microsoft Hasn’t Fixed Yet
The search bug is separate from an ongoing bug in the Start menu that Microsoft has not yet fully fixed. This issue, which has existed since systems were updated with cumulative patches released after July 2025, causes crashes in the Start menu, missing taskbars, crashes in the ShellHost process, and the Settings app not starting silently because XAML packages are not registered correctly after updates.
Microsoft has not provided a timeline for a permanent fix and is currently recommending that affected users manually register missing XAML packages as a workaround.
