Microsoft has released a server-side fix for a known issue that affected 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 failures are decreasing as the fix takes effect.
An investigation found that the issue coincided with a server-side Bing update meant to improve search performance. To fix the problem, the update was rolled back, and reports of search failures are gradually declining, according to a Windows release health update from Microsoft.
How Microsoft’s Fix Reaches Affected Devices
Affected devices show blank or non-functional results when using the Start Menu search. Microsoft states that the issue is limited to a small number of users, but reports of similar problems have been shared online for several months. These reports include cases of blank search results that remain clickable even though they do not display any content.
No manual update installation is necessary. The fix is deployed automatically 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 fix automatically.
Ongoing Windows 11 Start Menu Issues Microsoft Hasn’t Fixed Yet
The search failure is separate from an ongoing Start Menu bug that Microsoft has not yet fully fixed. This issue, which has been around since systems were updated with cumulative patches released after July 2025, leads to Start Menu crashes, missing taskbars, ShellHost process failures, and the Settings app failing to launch silently because XAML packages are not registering correctly after updates.
Microsoft has not provided a timeline for a permanent solution and currently recommends that affected users manually register the missing XAML packages as a workaround.
