What causes CORTEX_SEARCH_QUERY_ERROR?

The Cortex Search Service was created but has not yet completed its first embedding build. The service was paused or suspended due to inactivity or resource constraints. The REST query payload is missing required fields (query, columns, or limit). The Snowflake role used for the query lacks USAGE privilege on the Cortex Search Service

How do I fix CORTEX_SEARCH_QUERY_ERROR?

Step 1: Run SELECT * FROM SNOWFLAKE.INFORMATION_SCHEMA.CORTEX_SEARCH_SERVICES to check the service status.. Step 2: If status is INITIALIZING, wait for the first index build to complete before querying.. Step 3: Verify the calling role has been granted USAGE on the service with GRANT USAGE ON CORTEX SEARCH SERVICE.. Step 4: Validate the REST or Python SDK payload — ensure the query, columns, and limit fields are present and correctly typed.. Step 5: If the service is suspended, resume it with ALTER CORTEX SEARCH SERVICE ... RESUME.

Medium severityexecution

Power BI Refresh Error:
CORTEX_SEARCH_QUERY_ERROR

What does this error mean?

A query against a Snowflake Cortex Search Service failed, typically because the service has not finished its initial indexing, the service is suspended, or the query payload is malformed.

Common causes

1The Cortex Search Service was created but has not yet completed its first embedding build
2The service was paused or suspended due to inactivity or resource constraints
3The REST query payload is missing required fields (query, columns, or limit)
4The Snowflake role used for the query lacks USAGE privilege on the Cortex Search Service

How to fix it

1Step 1: Run SELECT * FROM SNOWFLAKE.INFORMATION_SCHEMA.CORTEX_SEARCH_SERVICES to check the service status.
2Step 2: If status is INITIALIZING, wait for the first index build to complete before querying.
3Step 3: Verify the calling role has been granted USAGE on the service with GRANT USAGE ON CORTEX SEARCH SERVICE.
4Step 4: Validate the REST or Python SDK payload — ensure the query, columns, and limit fields are present and correctly typed.
5Step 5: If the service is suspended, resume it with ALTER CORTEX SEARCH SERVICE ... RESUME.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the initial Cortex Search index build take?

Build time depends on corpus size. For millions of rows it can take tens of minutes. Monitor the CORTEX_SEARCH_SERVICES view for status to change from INITIALIZING to ACTIVE.

Does Cortex Search auto-pause like a virtual warehouse?

As of early 2025, Cortex Search Services do not auto-pause like warehouses. However, service availability can be affected by Snowflake platform events — always handle REST errors with retry logic.