Searching in Start menu does not show updated entries and shows deleted entries [duplicate]

With Windows 10 Microsoft migrated to a database-ish solution for indexing programs in search and the start menu, rather than just using a /startmenu/ directory. AFAIK the exact implementation is still pretty unclear, but there is something along those lines.

Updating from 8.1 to 10 causes it to migrate everything from /startmenu/ to the new system, which ignoring issues such as a (seemingly arbitrary) cap of 500 applications, works fine.

However this failed for me, and from googling seems to be an issue from upgrading with an older dev build, which then carried on to RTM.

So does anyone know a way to force a rebuild/re-index of the program library? Rebuilding the system wide index through control panel (also in <=8.1) has no effect.

Solution 1:

Windows doesn't auto-update the Start Menu since the coding had to be re-written to allow for UWP Apps to be shown (also why folder hierarchy is no longer recognized), and Windows 10 doesn't add the two Start Menu folders to the Index by default (they need to be for changes to be shown):

1. Show hidden files must be enabled:

   Reg Add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v Hidden /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f
   

2. Open Indexing Options: +R → Control SrchAdmin.dll → OK
3. Modify → Change selected locations → Tick below locations → OK

   # %ProgramData%: C:\ProgramData
     "%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu"
   
   # %AppData%: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming
     "%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu"
   

4. Advanced → Troubleshooting: Rebuild → OK
   • Re-indexing is resource-intensive, taking several hours to days, depending on use, since the rebuild only occurs when the PC is idle; while a re-index can be forced when the PC isn't idle, without a substantial amount of RAM and fast CPU, severe lag will occur
5. Reboot once Index is rebuilt

Solution 2:

I've been having some issues with the start menu index as well.

I'm trying out these steps to force the index to rebuild:

Right-click start menu -> Control Panel -> Indexing Options -> Advanced -> Rebuild

Solution 3:

There is a possibility that the permissions on Windows Search Directories were affected during the upgrade to Windows 10. I may have a solution to try. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Troubleshooting
2. In the search box (top right of Troubleshooting window) type indexing
3. Select Search and Indexing
4. Click Next
5. Select My problem isn't listed above and click Next
6. Enter a description of the problem (or leave it blank and all possibilities will be tested) and click next
7. If the option appears, select Try troubleshooting as an administrator
8. The scan begins to address the issue

Once the issue is corrected return to Indexing Options in Control panel to rebuild it (Control Panel > Indexing Options > Advanced > Rebuild)

Solution 4:

For everyone who have this "problem", a simple reboot could also do the trick.

• Tried rebuild index
• Tried repair

Nothing,

Did a reboot, .... Magic