# Search isn't returning expected results

> Work through the Build Search Index task in the Background Tasks Report — its Status and Duration tell you whether the index built, stalled, or hit a permissions problem.

URL: https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/articles/cascade-administration/search/search-isnt-returning-expected-results.html
category: Cascade Administration
article-type: troubleshooting
content-kind: faq
release-availability: all
tags: errors, search
updated: 2026-10-06

Follow these steps if Search or the Full Search and Replace tool isn't returning the results you expect.

1. Open the [Background Tasks Report](https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/articles/content-management/reports/background-tasks.html), or have an administrator open it.
1. Use **Filter Results** at the top right and set **Task Type** to **Build Search Index**.
1. Check the **Status** column for the most recent task, then follow the matching case below.

## Status is Completed

Verify that the **Duration** column shows a value greater than `00:00`. A duration of `00:00` generally means a permissions problem affecting the application's `indexes` directory. Confirm by finding the [cascade.log](https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/articles/cascade-administration/diagnostics/cascade-cms-log-files.html) file for that day and searching for messages like:

```bash
ERROR [SearchServiceImpl] Could not reset lucene directory, assets will not be added to search index:
java.io.IOException: Cannot delete C:\Program Files\Cascade CMS\tomcat\indexes\segments.gen
```

If you find messages like that, your CMS administrator needs to give the O/S account running Cascade CMS full privileges to the application's `indexes` folder on the application server.

## Status is Unfinished

The application likely experienced an ungraceful shutdown during the rebuild. [Start a new rebuild task](https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/articles/cascade-administration/search/rebuild-search-indexes.html).

Note the **Duration** of previous rebuild tasks so you know roughly how long to expect. Search results begin populating immediately, but you may need to wait for the whole job to finish before seeing everything you expect.

## Status is Running

Wait for it to complete, then search again. Previous tasks' **Duration** gives you an estimate. If results still aren't appearing once it finishes, [rebuild the search indexes](https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/articles/cascade-administration/search/rebuild-search-indexes.html) once more.

> Still having trouble? Reach out to our support team and we'll help investigate further.