What Is SearchApp.exe? Is It Safe & How To Disable It?

Many users have reportedly come across an issue where they weren’t able to get rid of SearchApp.exe. You must be wondering, what is grave with this process? Firstly, it is a CPU intensive process, which means SearchApp.exe consumes high CPU power. Some users have also complained that they could not shut SearchApp.exe down in Task Manager because they were facing enabling SLI in the NVIDIA Control Panel.

Let’s try and delve a little deeper into this issue and find few workarounds so that you can get rid of it.

What is SearchApp.exe?

As the name suggests, SearchApp.exe is an executable file that is related to Windows search functions. In previous builds of Windows 10, SearchApp.exe was related to search functions inside Cortana and Windows 10. However, with Windows 10 version 2004, this executable file is merged with Windows search functions.

Now, this brings us to two of its aspects –

First, if Cortana keeps running SearchApp.exe, it would consume a lot of CPU’s power because the CPU can heat up faster. To keep track of an overheating CPU on Windows 10, here are some of the best CPU Temperature Monitor Software.

Second, since SearchApp.exe is merged with the Windows search function in the latest Windows build, removing or even disabling it can create issues, especially with search functions. It is advisable to first create a restore point before moving ahead with the below-mentioned steps to disable or remove SearchApp.exe.

3 Ways To Disable SearchApp.Exe On Windows 11/10 PC

A lot of users are looking for different ways to kill SearchApp.exe process. You can have a look at this entire thread on Reddit to see the opinions & suggestions from a variety of people. After multiple tests, we’ve curated the following list of workable solutions that will definitely help you!

Method No. 1 – Use A Dedicated Cleanup Tool

Before going ahead with the manual ways to fix SerachApp.exe, we suggest using a specialist system cleaning software known as Advanced PC Cleanup. Using this best PC optimizer, without much effort, you can track and delete issues like constantly popping SearchApp.Exe.

What Is an Advanced PC Cleanup?

Advanced PC Cleanup is a robust optimization and cleanup software that removes junk and temporary files, cleans any obsolete data, optimizes the registry, removes any privacy traces, and does everything that can boost your PC’s performance.

Here’s how you can use it –

  1. Download and install Advanced PC Cleanup.

Here’s a comprehensive review of Advanced PC Cleanup.

  1. Click on Start Scan Now on the home screen and then wait for the scan results.
  2. When the scan is over, click on the Clean Now button.
  3. Also, we suggest using Startup Manager, Uninstall Apps, Old Downloads and Malware Protection and other modules to fix several Windows errors.

This means before fixing the SearchApp.exe system file error; you can use Advanced PC Cleanup – an excellent PC cleaner and optimizer to clean junk files.

Method No. 2: Disabling SearchApp.exe Using The Task manager

Task manager

Now, this process will require you to act as fast as possible.

Here, you will be using the Task Manager to open the location of SearchApp.exe, end the task, and then quickly rename the filename in file explorer. This is suggested because SearchApp.exe immediately starts when you click End Task.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
  2. Under the Processes tab, locate the SearchApp.exe and click on the arrow on the left side and expand the process.
  3. Right-click on it and click on Open file location and End Task simultaneously
  4. Rename the file in the file explorer as quickly as possible (for renaming, you can use the “F2” shortcut which would help you rename the file quickly

Method No. 3: Get Rid Of SearchApp Using The Command Prompt

You can use the Command Prompt to disable SearchApp.exe. Here are the steps –

  1. Type cmd in the Windows search bar
  2. From the right-hand pane, choose Run as administrator
  3. When the Command Prompt window opens, type or copy-paste the below mentioned commands one by one. Press the Enter key after typing each command.

(i) To kill the task, type or copy-paste

Cd%winddir%\SystemApps (press enter)

Taskkill /f /im SearchApp.exe (press enter)

(ii) After the task has been killed, we will have to ensure the task is killed permanently. To do that, we will append the .old file to the original file by moving it. This can be done by typing the commands mentioned below. Press the Enter key after typing each command.

move Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy.old

Is SearchApp.exe Safe to Run?

I am sure by now you must have plenty of questions in your mind. You might be thinking whether SearchApp.exe is a legitimate process or not. Does it occupy a lot of system resources? Or does it cause any kind of trouble or PC error?

Well, according to some computer experts and users who’ve reported the issue, SearchApp.exe does exhibit peculiar behavior. Though it’s not a virus, there are malware, trojan horse, and other infections that disguise as SearchApp.exe real process.

To determine whether the SearchApp.exe Windows process is safe to run or not, you should check the location of the file and the certificate. The genuine location of the SearchApp.exe process should fall under the directory – – C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy

To check the location of the file, here’s what you need to do:

STEP 1: Launch File Explorer and navigate to This PC.

STEP 2: Now, copy and paste the following path in the Address Bar and hit the Enter button.

C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy

STEP 3: Locate the SearchApp.exe file and right-click on the same. From the context menu, simply click on the Properties option.

Properties option

STEP 4: From the Properties window, go to the Digital Signatures tab and hit the Details button.

Digital Signatures tab

STEP 5: At this step, you need to head toward the general tab and click on the option – View Certificate button.

View Certificate button

STEP 6: You will be shown Microsoft’s certification information about the SearchApp.exe file.

Microsoft’s certification information

This is how you will know whether SearchApp.exe is safe to run or not on your Windows PC.

FAQ –

How do I get rid of SearchApp.eXE?

You can try one of the ways mentioned above to get rid of SearchApp.exe. You can also use a dedicated Windows optimizer such as Advanced PC Cleanup, or disable SearchApp.exe via Task Manager or Command Prompt.

How can I permanently disable or just delete it?

Permanently disabling or deleting SearchApp.exe can render system issues, especially with search functions. Even if you go by the above-mentioned methods, you should create a system restore point to restore a previous version in case of an emergency.

Conclusion

High CPU usage can cause several issues, and if there is any process that is causing CPU issues, it should be dealt with promptly. That being said, we have already listed some of the ways to deal with SearchApp.exe, and undoubtedly, we’d suggest you employ an efficient tool like Advanced PC Cleanup, which might just prove to be your right bet to resolve the issue.

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12 COMMENTS

  • comment_avtar
    Mridula
    Disabling it using the Task Manager works.

    4 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Julian R
    Why would you do this? If you moce the file, as suggest in option three your windows search engine will not function anymore. What is the pint in getting rid of the process anyway?

    3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    MM
    “Disabling it using the Task Manager works.” Not on my system. A few seconds after just disabling it, it respawns.

    3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Alek
    It prevents nVidia Application to manage SLI configuration. Until SearchApp is working you cannot change config. It’s annoying.

    3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    John
    how can I reload searchapp exe.? I want to use my search app

    3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Holger Drechsler
    Spent hours and hours to get rid of (for me) useless Windows processes. Sadly some of it will pop up after automatic updates. We shall all urge Microsoft to give the user back the control of the system. If I say, I don´t want to have Cortana Microsoft should respect the will of the users. Most of the Uses are froced to use Windows as OS. We have no other choice bevaus Microsoft has the monopoly on the OS. The simple demand of me is: to nationalize this company and build a commission of citizens and experts to setup the rules, what an OS should be able to and what never should be part of an OS. For me things like Cortans, Edge, Wordpad, Paint, Media Player and so on should be never part of a OS. These all are applications, runned by the OS.

    3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    luwi
    my case is opposite how do i enable it? i use search a lot

    3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Harry Eastwood
    Holger Drechsler you are right – Microsoft use and abuse our machines daily without even asking if we want updates – even install them in the background killing work you are currently doing – how can any legitimate OS take priority over your own work – purely so they can infiltrate your environment for their own gain.

    3 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      True.

      3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    Benzon
    Fix my search app.exe

    3 years ago
    • comment_avtar
      Mridula Nimawat
      Hello, Please follow the aforementioned methods to fix the issue. Thank you

      3 years ago
  • comment_avtar
    @groundzero1
    Perhaps we all should dump MS completely and go strictly Open Source. All these other extensions are born from people that would otherwise go home unemployed cause of nothing to do so they purpurate all these other things on us that we never use or want. I finally got Fling, Bing, and several others to just stay in the background as they were so annoying about the same a popups were. Microsoft I think has a built in overbearing – bullying type DNA to their platforms and seeing the likes of Bill Gates……it is little wonder. He is such a nit-wit.

    2 years ago

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