Likely an issue with start menu search. I had it a year or two ago, when I first installed Win 10, start menu search couldn't find anything. I can't remember details since it was a while ago, but I just searched the web to find the culprit.

Now since I have fixed the issue, I can search any application installed and get it in moments. Try and see if maybe you also have an issue with search itself.

There's a software called EVERYTHING works like magic. Pin it to taskbar / set hotkey.

Everything is one of the few tools I wish there was a Linux equivalent of. Any suggestions?

It needs to be able to index filenames locally as well as on network shares, and ideally show results as you type.

Try Wox: http://www.wox.one/

It's similar to Spotlight on the Mac.

Oh wow, that's amazing. I had been using "Everything" and WOX integrates with it for an even better experience.

Same for me... on systems that are disconnected from internet. I have a bunch of machines in a lab that I clean install from time to time, and they are always disconnected. Windows "search" never returns anything on those machines.

or it finds it but as you hit enter NEW RESULTS and the wrong thing opens

yeah i've noticed i tend to start ignoring windows native explorer functionality and build my own mindspace for apps and stuff. i didn't notice until i bought a macbook and realized i could just search apps with finder when i thought of them instead of the path occupying valuable space in my mind.

think the functionality broke because of them trying to include cortana results in the search. it's completely garbage now

Unfortunately the search (whatever that navigation feature is called) in Windows was always several steps behind what Linux and OSX offered; even before Cortana was a thing.

On MacOS, I recommend Alfred as a free upgrade over Spotlight.

What killer features does it have over spotlight that made you switch?

i thought alfred was paid and closedsource?

There’s a free (as in beer, not speech) app that does quite a lot, and a paid upgrade that’s largely about customizing it. The potential customizations from the ‘power pack’ seemed quite extensive, but I haven’t personally played with it much.

The latest update, finally, fixes this for me.