Ever since Google started falling apart (in the past year or so) due to an influx of spamming and botched-up results, I switched to “Bing” for life as my go-to browsing savior. Credit where credit is due, Microsoft’s search engine has lived up to my billing with relatively better performance. Though there are rare occasions when Bing doesn’t work as expected. Having experienced this issue a couple of times myself, I would like to share the best tips and tricks to fix Bing not working problem on Windows 11 24H2.
Fix Bing Not Working on Windows 11 24H2
So, what’s ailing Bing on your PC? There are multiple reasons why the search engine tends to go out of track and starts ill-functioning. Some of the major villains include –
- Sluggish internet connection
- Corrupted extensions
- Greedy ad blockers
- Windows bug
- A random software glitch
- Pileup of cache and cookies
- Faulty configuration
In this most exhaustive troubleshooting guide on the given topic, I’m going to dive into each of the above-mentioned culprits and take it on with an effective solution. So, follow along to fix the issue for good and bring your beloved Bing back on track:
1. Check Your Internet Connection
First and foremost, make sure your internet connection is up to the mark. If it seems to be sluggish or struggling, reboot your router. If there is another network available, try switching to it for now.
2. Relaunch the Browser
At times, you can bring the malfunctioning Bing into action by just relaunching the browser. So, close Microsoft Edge or the browser where you are using Bing and relaunch it.
3. Restart Your PC
If a minor software glitch is preventing Bing from working smoothly, there is a high chance restarting your PC may help resolve the problem. Therefore, close the Microsoft Edge browser/ or any other browser where you are using Bing. Reboot your Windows device > Relaunch the browser and check if the search engine has come back on track.
4. Force Kill the Microsoft Edge Browser
Well, this one has been my savior for ages. So, I’m going to count on it to restore Bing.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to launch the Task Manager > Select the Microsoft Edge browser in the left sidebar > hit the End task option at the top.
- Now, restart your PC and open the Edge browser. Hopefully, Bing should now be working as usual.
5. Check Time and Date Settings
Bear in mind that the ill-configured time and date settings might also interfere with web services.
- To turn on automatic synchronization on your PC, navigate to Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
6. Disable Extensions in Microsoft Edge
At times, extensions tend to interfere with Bing. Hence, try disabling all the Edge extensions.
- In the Microsoft Edge browser > click on the ellipsis icon aka triple-dot icon at the top right > Extensions > disable every single extension by turning off the specific toggles and then restart the browser.
7. Disable VPN or Proxy
Are you using a VPN service or a proxy server on your Windows device? If you are nodding in the affirmative, I suspect it’s your VPN/Proxy server that could be causing the problem.
- Go to the Settings app on your computer > Select the Network & internet tab in the left sidebar > Now, head into VPN and Proxy settings and turn them off.
8. Disable Ad Blockers
Be sure that your ad blockers are not blocking the path of Bing. Therefore, consider turning them off temporarily.
- To get it done, launch the Edge browser > Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner > head over to Extensions.
- Now, you can turn off a specific ad-blocker extension or Remove it.
9. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Has it been a while since you cleaned up the Microsoft Edge browser? If your answer is yes, the pile-up of the cache and cookies is causing the problem.
- To do so, launch the Microsoft Edge browser > click on the triple-dot menu at the top-right > Settings.
- Click on the menu icon at the top left corner of the screen and choose Privacy, search, and services.
- Click Clear browsing data and then clean up the entire cluster of cache and cookies.
- Now, close the browser > restart your PC > relaunch the browser and find out if you have overcome the hurdle.
10. Reset Network Settings
If your PC is going through persistent network-related issues, it might impact Bing.
- Use the Win+I keyboard shortcut to launch the Settings app and click Network & internet in the left sidebar.
- Select Advanced network settings and click Network reset.
- After that, go through the on-screen instructions to reset the network settings.
11. Update Microsoft Edge
For smooth performance, it’s always recommended to keep Microsoft Edge updated.
- Navigate to Microsoft Edge browser > triple-dot icon at the upper> right > Settings. Now, click About Microsoft Edge to check for updates and install them.
12. Use a Different Browser
Should the problem persist, try using Bing in another browser like Chrome or Firefox to figure out if the issue is browser-specific. If Bing is functioning properly in other browsers, Edge is at fault – and not Bing.
13. Reset Microsoft Edge Settings
For times when Edge seems to be embroiled in issues or doesn’t function on the expected lines, resetting its entire settings comes in handy.
- Inside the Microsoft Edge browser, go to the triple-dot menu at the top right > Choose Settings.
- Now, click Reset settings and hit “Restore settings to their default values”.
14. Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings
Double-check if Bing/Microsoft Edge is being blocked by third-party antivirus software or firewall on your PC (Settings app > Privacy & Security > Windows Security). To ward off any unwanted interference, turn off the Firewall as well as any antivirus program you are using on your Windows device.
15. Check Bing Server Status
Ensure that Bing’s servers are live and running without any hiccups. Launch a browser and visit DownDetector > input Bing and press enter to check Bing’s server status. If it’s down, give Microsoft enough time to resolve the issue.
16. Flush DNS Cache
If a corrupted DNS cache is making life difficult for Bing, flushing out the DNS cache will help you get rid of the issue.
- Launch the Command Prompt on your computer. Make sure you are running it as an Administrator.
- Type the following command and press enter:
ipconfig /flushdns
17. Update Windows
A malicious Windows bug might also be at the forefront of this issue. Therefore, install any pending updates on your Windows device.
- To do so, fire up the Settings app > Windows Update and install the latest update.
18. Scan for Malware
If the problem continues to bug your PC, run a thorough scan using Windows Security or with the help of a third-party antivirus tool to spot and eliminate the problem.
- To trigger the Windows security, open the Settings app > Privacy & Security > Windows Security and then do the needful.
19. Try the Bing App
No luck as yet? Why not try out the “Bing” app on your PC? While it’s not a full-fledged solution, it’s worth giving a chance in order to fill up the void.
20. Switch to a Different DNS
Yet to resolve the Bing issue on your PC? Now, I would recommend you change your DNS settings to either Google’s Public DNS or Cloudflare’s DNS:
- Head over to the Settings app on your PC and select Network & Internet.
- Choose Advanced network settings. Under “Related settings”, click More network adapter options.
- Now, find your active network connection and right-click on the connection > Choose Properties in the menu.
- In the Properties window, locate and select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Click the Properties option.
- Next, select “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
- Next up, input the DNS server addresses you would like to use.
Google Public DNS:
- Preferred: 8.8.8.8
- Alternate: 8.8.4.4
Cloudflare DNS:
- Preferred: 1.1.1.1
- Alternate: 1.0.0.1
In the end, make sure to click “OK” to save the changes. After that, close all open windows and restart the browser.
- After that, launch the Command Prompt on your PC as Administrator. Input the following command and press Enter:
ipconfig /flushdns
It will let you wipe out the old/corrupted DNS cache to make the new settings come into effect without any roadblocks.
Up next, launch the Edge browser and navigate to a site to find out if you have managed to leave the issue behind.
21. Reinstall Microsoft Edge
Fresh installing has long been a highly effective way to fix a malfunctioning app on a PC. So, reinstall Microsoft Edge on your Windows device.
- Open the Settings app on your PC > Apps > Installed Apps > Locate the Edge browser.
- Click on the triple-dot icon right next to Edge > Choose Uninstall in the menu and confirm.
- Open the Microsoft Store and download the latest version of the Edge browser.
Wrapping up…
There you have it! I guess your Bing has returned to form and so has your smooth-sailing browsing experience. Since these tips have restored Microsoft’s search engine for many users, I don’t see any valid reason why they won’t click for you.
