Windows 10: Explorer Saved Search no longer allows launching executable files.

When you create a saved search result in Explorer that contains executable files you can no longer launch the application from the saved search.

This used to work and I used it extensively in Windows 10 until around the time frame that Windows 10 2004 came out. Not sure if that's when it stopped working, but once it did, it also no longer works on prior Windows 10 versions tested on 1809, 1903 and 1909.

So maybe it was an update/patch.


To reproduce I'll use SysInternals for this example:

Download SysInternals Suite from here:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/

Go to your downloads folder where it was created and extract it to it's own folder.


You should now have a SysinternalsSuite folder probably under your downloads folder.

Go to that folder and in the search bar type "ext:exe" to limit the results to only executables.

Confirm that you can launch an executable DbgView64.exe is a good example.


Now, save the search result by clicking on the "Search" tab in Explorer and choosing "Save Search".

I called my "SysInternalsExes".

Now explorer refreshes with that saved search result active.

Attempt to launch dbgview64.exe now.



It won't run.


You can go back to this search again by navigating to your user folder and going into Searches.

:)

 

Windows 10 File Explorer no longer shows Search ribbon during search

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



We understand the difficulties you are facing with the file explorer search ribbon. This is really unusual, as we have tried to reproduce the issue but was not able to get anything. In order to get clarity and to assist you accordingly, please reply
with the answers to the questions below.

• What is the Windows 10 version and Build installed? (Type
  winver in Windows search/Run command)
  
• Are you aware of any recent changes on the PC, prior to this issue?

However, we would suggest you to perform these methods and let us know the outcome.



Method 1: Reset file explorer to default.

1. Open file explore and select on View tab from the top ribbon.
   
2. Click on Option and select Change folder and search option.
   
3. In the new window select the view tab and click on Restore Default tab below
   
4. Click OK and re-launch file explorer.

Method 2: New user account

Check in new user account. Follow the steps from the article

Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10 to create a new user account and check if you are facing the same issue with the file explorer.



We await your response,



Aditya Roy

Microsoft Community – Moderator

 

File Explorer Search Not Working


I am trying to search in File Explorer (Windows Explorer, My Computer) and it will not find anything. I can copy text from a name in the list and paste it in the search box and it still finds nothing. I have looked at the suggestions that have been posted and nothing I find that is relative to this works. Anyone have any suggestions? I am running Win 10 Pro on an I3 coustom desktop computer.

 

setting default view for Winodws Explorer Search Reasults

Thank you for the detailed response. To change the search result's view from content to list, we suggest following the steps below:

• Open the File Explorer and try to search for files.
• In the toolbar, open the View tab and click List
  to change the view.
• Once changed, close the File Explorer.
• Open the File Explorer again and try to search to see if the setting has been retained.

After performing the steps above, reply back to us so we can provide additional help.