diff --git a/EverythingToolbar/Helpers/EverythingProcessHelper.cs b/EverythingToolbar/Helpers/EverythingProcessHelper.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b6316d8d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/EverythingToolbar/Helpers/EverythingProcessHelper.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+using System;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Threading;
+
+namespace EverythingToolbar.Helpers
+{
+    public static class EverythingProcessHelper
+    {
+        private const string Dll64 = "Everything64.dll";
+
+        [DllImport(Dll64, EntryPoint = "Everything_QueryW", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
+        private static extern bool Everything64_QueryW(bool wait);
+
+        [DllImport(Dll64, EntryPoint = "Everything_IsDBLoaded")]
+        private static extern bool Everything64_IsDBLoaded();
+
+        [DllImport(Dll64, EntryPoint = "Everything_GetLastError")]
+        private static extern uint Everything64_GetLastError();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Checks if Everything is running and DB is loaded.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static bool IsRunning()
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                // Try a dummy query (empty string = no results)
+                if (!Everything64_QueryW(false))
+                    return false;
+
+                return Everything64_IsDBLoaded();
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Ensures Everything is running.
+        /// If not, starts Everything.exe in background with -startup.
+        /// Waits until DB is loaded or timeout expires.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static bool EnsureRunning(int timeoutMs = 5000)
+        {
+            if (IsRunning())
+            {
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            string[] possiblePaths =
+            {
+               ToolbarSettings.User.EverythingPath,
+               @"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe",
+               @"C:\Program Files (x86)\Everything\Everything.exe",
+               Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.LocalApplicationData), "Everything\\Everything.exe"),
+            };
+
+            var everythingPath = possiblePaths.FirstOrDefault(p => File.Exists(p));
+            if (everythingPath == null)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            try
+            {
+                Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo
+                {
+                    FileName = everythingPath,
+                    Arguments = "-startup -first-instance",
+                    UseShellExecute = false,
+                    CreateNoWindow = true
+                });
+
+                var sw = Stopwatch.StartNew();
+                while (sw.ElapsedMilliseconds < timeoutMs)
+                {
+                    if (IsRunning())
+                        return true;
+
+                    Thread.Sleep(millisecondsTimeout: 10);
+                }
+            }
+            catch (Exception)
+            {
+                // don't block. User can start Everything on their own as well.
+            }
+
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/EverythingToolbar/Search/SearchResultProvider.cs b/EverythingToolbar/Search/SearchResultProvider.cs
index 4c22bef0d..26ae047b5 100644
--- a/EverythingToolbar/Search/SearchResultProvider.cs
+++ b/EverythingToolbar/Search/SearchResultProvider.cs
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ private static void LogLastError()
             }
         }
 
-        private static bool Initialize()
+        private bool Initialize()
         {
             SetInstanceName(ToolbarSettings.User.InstanceName);
 
@@ -417,6 +417,7 @@ private static bool Initialize()
             {
                 LogLastError();
                 Logger.Error("Failed to get Everything version number.");
+                this.IsBusy = true;
             }
             else
             {
diff --git a/EverythingToolbar/SearchWindow.xaml.cs b/EverythingToolbar/SearchWindow.xaml.cs
index fb04c80e3..dbe2c37d2 100644
--- a/EverythingToolbar/SearchWindow.xaml.cs
+++ b/EverythingToolbar/SearchWindow.xaml.cs
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
-using System;
+using EverythingToolbar.Helpers;
+using EverythingToolbar.Search;
+using System;
+using System.Threading;
 using System.Windows;
 using System.Windows.Input;
 using System.Windows.Interop;
 using System.Windows.Media;
 using System.Windows.Media.Animation;
 using System.Windows.Threading;
-using EverythingToolbar.Helpers;
-using EverythingToolbar.Search;
 
 namespace EverythingToolbar
 {
@@ -29,6 +30,27 @@ private SearchWindow()
 
         private void OnActivated(object? sender, EventArgs e)
         {
+            // check if Everything.exe process is running or not. If it is not running then start it in background.
+            Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(new Action(() =>
+            {
+                if (!EverythingProcessHelper.IsRunning())
+                {
+                    EverythingProcessHelper.EnsureRunning();
+
+                    Dispatcher.Invoke(() =>
+                    {
+                        // Triggers search again after the start of Everything process.
+                        var textBox = (SearchBox.FindName("TextBox") as System.Windows.Controls.TextBox);
+                        if (textBox != null)
+                        {
+                            textBox.Text = " ";
+                            textBox.Text = "";
+                        }
+                    });
+                }
+
+            }), DispatcherPriority.Background);
+
             if (TaskbarStateManager.Instance.IsIcon)
                 EventDispatcher.Instance.InvokeSearchBoxFocused(this, EventArgs.Empty);
 
@@ -57,7 +79,7 @@ private void OnLostKeyboardFocus(object? sender, KeyboardFocusChangedEventArgs e
         {
             if (e.NewFocus == null) // New focus outside application
             {
-                Hide();
+               Hide();
             }
         }