Home Windows 10 7 Fixes For The “SearchUI.exe Suspended” Error

7 Fixes For The “SearchUI.exe Suspended” Error

When third-party apps clashes with background processes, errors like the “searchui.exe suspended” can occur.

This error usually disturbs the Cortana process. Users will find it difficult to be able to utilize their search assistant. There are solutions to this error and they’ll all be explained in easy to follow steps below.

Fixes For The “SearchUI.exe Suspended”  Error

The fixes are largely based on fixing the error based on where it is occurring. Some are a little bit more specific than others. 

So if you suspect a particular process of causing the error, you should look for the fix that best applies in your situation.

1. Using Your Search & Indexing Troubleshooting Tool

This is probably the first fix you should try on based on the fact that it deals immediately with the problem of you not being able to use your search assistant. 

How the tool works is that it scans your system for Cortana issues and fixes them if you allow it to. 

How To Run The Tool

Open your Settings menu. Do that by clicking on Start and in the panel that appears on the left, click on Settings.

When the Settings menu appears, find and select the Update & Security option. 

SearchUI.exe

In the Update & Security menu, you’ll notice a pane on the left-hand side of the menu.

Go to the pane, find and click on Troubleshoot.

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

When you do, the Troubleshoot menu will appear on the right-hand side of your screen. 

Click on “Search and Indexing” and look for the option that reads Run The Troubleshooter and click on it to start the process.

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

When the tool finds errors with your Cortana process, it’ll ask for permission to fix it. If you allow it, the errors will be fixed.

After that, you can now try the search assistant again. It should be working now.

2. Rebooting And Reinstalling Your Cortana

If the first fix didn’t work out, don’t worry just yet. There are quite a few others you can still use. 

This fix is mainly all about restarting the Cortana process in the hopes of clearing any cache or file that might be causing the “searchui.exe suspended” error.

How To Reboot Your Cortana Process

Open your task manager. 

You can do that by using the shortcut keys (Windows + X), then selecting Task Manager from the list of options that appear.

When the task manager menu appears, look for and click on the Processes tab. It is the first tab close to the top of the menu.

In the list of processes that will appear, search for the Cortana process. 

When you find it, right-click on the name Cortana and click on End Task in the menu that appears. 

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

This immediately stops the Cortana process. Go back and restart Cortana. Then check if the search assistant is working well.

If the issues still aren’t resolved, then you should try the other fix that’s directly related to the Cortana process. 

Reinstalling your Cortana is somewhat similar to the above but it is much more effective than a simple reboot. 

How To Reinstall Your Cortana

Open Windows PowerShell (the one with Admin privileges).

You can do that by using the shortcut keys (Windows + X), then selecting Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the list of options that appear.

When the Windows PowerShell prompt opens, enter the command below.

Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage – DisableDevelopementMode – Register “$($_.Installation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

Remember that after inputting the command above in the prompt, you have to press the Enter key to run the command.

When the command runs successfully, reboot your system and check if the error persists.

3. Deleting And Reinstalling The iCloud App

This fix is quite useful because it has already identified the problem app.

Many users have reported that the “searchui.exe suspended” error occurred because of iCloud clashing with the Cortana process.

It was solved easily. All they did was delete or uninstall the iCloud app and then reinstall it. That’s what I’m recommending here.

Navigate to Programs & Features menu and uninstall the app. Then download it back from official or trusted sources.

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

You should be able to use your search assistant effectively now and still use the iCloud app.

4. Creating And Using Another User Account

This idea is basically to abandon your current user account (if the fix works) and then continue using the new one you created. 

Sometimes errors can crop up due to issues with your user account and the easiest way to deal with it is to just discard it and get a new one.

How To Open A New User Account

Open your Settings menu. Do that by clicking on Start and in the panel that appears on the left, click on Settings.

When the Settings menu appears, find and select the Accounts option.

SearchUI.exe Suspended

When the Accounts menu appears, navigate to the left-hand side of your screen and click on Family & Other Users in the pane. 

Then move to the right-hand side of your screen in the Family & Other Users menu that will appear there.

Find the Add Someone Else To This PC option and click on it. 

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

When a new window appears, click on the I Don’t Have This Person’s Sign-in Information option.

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

Then add a user without a Microsoft account (it’s easier).

When a window named Create An Account For This PC appears, fill in details like username and password correctly to continue the process. 

Press Next after you’re done to finish the process. 

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

When the new account has been created, you will have to go shut down all of the applications you have running on your system. 

Then restart the system but enter your new user account details. 

If the problem came from issues with your old user account, then this fix should work. 

Check to see if the “searchui.exe suspended” error is still occurring. 

5. Updating Your Windows 10

This is a very common fix for errors because updates usually resolve issues occurring in current versions. 

Updating your Windows 10 version can easily help get rid of the error and also provide added protection and system enhancements.

If you already have the latest update, you don’t need to bother using this fix. 

How To Update Your Windows 10

Open your Settings menu. 

Do that by clicking on Start and in the panel that appears on the left, click on Settings.

When the Settings menu shows up, find and click on the Update & Security option. 

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

 

In the Update & Security menu that appears, find and click on Windows Update. You’ll find this option in the pane at the left-hand side of the menu.

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

As usual, after clicking on Windows Update, navigate to the pane at the right-hand side of the menu and find the Check For Updates option, or the download option.

When you click the option, your system will automatically search (I’m assuming your network is working) for updates and install them if available (you’ll have to follow some on-screen instructions to finish the updates). 

After you’re done installing the update, check to see if the “searchui.exe suspended” error is still occurring. 

6. Fixing Broken & Corrupted Files In The Cortana Package Folder 

This fix is the last because it involves a fair bit of processes that might need users to know a little bit about system settings.

The first step is to boot your system into Safe Mode.

How To Boot Your System Into Safe Mode

Open the Start menu by clicking on Start. Select the Power button and it’ll show a list of options.

Press these keys exactly – (Shift + Restart).

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

This should restart your system. When it restarts, you’ll see a blue screen with a list of options.

Follow this navigation below.

Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings 

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

 

In the Startup Settings menu, you’ll see a list of options including Enable Safe Mode. Click on Restart instead. 

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

It should be close to the bottom right-hand side of the menu.

In the next menu that appears, you’ll be asked to choose which mode you want to restart your system in. 

Press F4 and your system should restart in safe mode. You can now continue with the steps below.

7 Fixes For The "SearchUI.exe Suspended" Error

Fixing Broken & Corrupted Files

Open a Windows PowerShell prompt (admin). I already explained how above. 

Enter the command below in the prompt.

RD /S /Q “C:\Users\ {InsertYourUsernameHere}\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\RoamingState”

Remember that the space in the command named – InsertYourUsernameHere is basically for your own Windows username. 

When you’re done, enter the next command below.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like “*SystemApps*”} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage – DisableDevelopementMode – Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

Remember that to run the command, you have to press Enter after each command. 

These commands should reinstall your Cortana process, help fix its issues, and get rid of the “searchui.exe suspended” error. 

Conclusion 

The error is quite disturbing especially for folks who rely on their search assistant in daily usage of their system.

The fixes above will help get rid of the error and restore your Cortana process to its normally effective state.

If you have any issues or you need further help, use the comments section to describe your issue and I’ll get back to you with tips to help.