What do you mean by search bar?
The autocomplete option? If so, only the most popular games are added to the search bar autocomplete suggestion list.
If you mean that your game is not shown in the results, I copy a previous answer:
Hi. This is a very common question and people don't search or read.
- First: read the itch documentation about being indexed: https://itch.io/docs/creators/getting-indexed
- Second. read the rules about this sections:
Before you create a topic asking why you can't find your game in Search or Browse READ THIS: https://itch.io/docs/creators/getting-indexed. If you still need to create a topic about it, then please write in your post that you read the docs and you still have a question, otherwise we'll close your topic. Then, tell us why you believe your pages should be indexed.
- Third, the waiting time is very variable, it depends on many factors that are not explained, it can range from a few hours to weeks.
If you are new or if it is the first time you sell a game, the waiting time increases.
There are no exact figures for how long it takes for a game to be reviewed (Again, it can be a few hours, a few days, or up to a few weeks.), what I have seen in the forum and which can be considered normal (that is, the least you can wait before thinking that there is a problem and asking for help), I would say up to 2 weeks if it is a free game from someone who already has other titles.
Between 3 and 4 weeks for paid games or new accounts. Disclaimer: I do not work at Itch, these times are what I have seen on the forum and may vary depending on dates or events. But below these times, you are usually asked to wait. By the way, the staff does not work on weekends, if, for example, you published on a Friday afternoon, the clock only begins to run the following Monday.