Windows Search service - Access is denied error

 If you suddenly cannot search through your emails or other items in Windows, then check the following :

A. Windows Search Service.
Type  MMC.EXE, Add the Services snap-in, scroll down to the relevant entry:





Check:
1. Is the service running, or just starting and stopping?
2. Is it set as Automatic (delayed) start?
3. Is it run by the Local System account?




B. Event Log
Add the Event Log snap-in



If you get: The Windows Search service terminated with the following error:  Access is denied, then this may have happened:

The folders with index files under C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\ have wrong security permissions. In my case the Local Service account entry was missing.


To add the missing permissions for the Local Service, right click the ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data folder, select Properties, Security, Advanced, Change Permissions, Add


Type: Local into the text field and press Check Names. The Local Service account should be filled in as in above.

Press OK to go back. Now you need to allow this account to modify the folder's content. Press Edit to bring up the Permissions Entry for Data window:

Select the Replace all child object permissions ... checkbox, to propagate the new permissions to the subfolders.

Click OK, making sure that no further errors crop up. If you can't modify the permissions, check if you are the owner of the folder (the Owner tab) and modify accordingly.

Now check if the Windows Indexing Service has fully started and its effects are as they should be, e.g. in Outlook: