Windows 11 Emoji Picker Search Box Disappears in Some Builds, Restarting Explorer Res

[harlan4096]

A bug in Windows 11 is causing the search box in the built-in emoji picker to disappear, which means users can't search for emojis by name. Several users have reported the issue, and Windows Central has confirmed it in the Windows 11 Insider Beta channel.

Microsoft has not yet acknowledged the bug or provided an official fix. Restarting the PC often resolves the problem, but there is a faster workaround that takes about 30 seconds.

How to Restore the Missing Emoji Picker Search Box in Windows 11

The issue seems to be related to UI rendering in Windows Explorer. Restarting the Explorer process usually refreshes the affected interface elements and restores the search box functionality.

To do this, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Locate Windows Explorer in the list of processes. Right-click on it and choose Restart.

The taskbar will disappear briefly and then reload as Windows Explorer restarts. Once it reappears, open the emoji picker with Win + . (period) should display the search box correctly.

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