Microsoft has released a server-side fix for a known issue affecting the Start Menu search on some Windows 11 23H2 devices. The issue began on April 6 and was related to a Bing update aimed at improving search performance. Microsoft rolled back the update and reported that the fix has led to a decrease in search errors.

Research found that the issue was conflicting with the server-side Bing update made to enhance search performance. To resolve the problem, the update was rolled back, and according to Microsoft's Windows version health update, reports of search errors are gradually decreasing.

How Does Microsoft's Fix Reach Affected Devices?

Affected devices show empty or non-functional results when using the Start Menu search. Although Microsoft states that the issue is limited to a small number of users, similar issues have reportedly been shared online for several months. These reports include clickable empty search results that do not display content.

No manual update installation is required. The fix is being distributed automatically as a server-side change. Microsoft notes that two conditions must be met for the fix to be applied: the device must be connected to the internet, and Web Search must not be disabled via Group Policy. Devices meeting both conditions will automatically receive the fix.

Ongoing Windows 11 Start Menu Issues Not Yet Resolved by Microsoft

The search error is separate from an ongoing Start Menu bug that Microsoft has not yet fully resolved. This issue has persisted since systems were updated with cumulative updates released after July 2025, causing Start Menu crashes, missing taskbars, ShellHost process errors, and the Settings app to fail to launch silently because XAML packages are not being registered correctly after updates.

Microsoft has not provided a timeline for a permanent solution and is currently advising affected users to manually register the missing XAML packages.