Windows 10: File Explorer Search Not Working

Recently, I have observed the Search feature of the File Explorer does not work (e.g., No items match your search). The folders I'm searching are indexed. I've tried rebuilding the index. I can even drill down to a folder I know contains the sought file and entering a search word in the file's name and search returns nothing.


For example, D:\Users\Clayton is indexed with no exclusions (all subdirectories included). I can search from D:\Users\Clayton\Books for 'code'. That folder has many subfolders with files containing 'code' in the filename/contents. Yet search returns nothing.


D:\Users\Clayton\Books is shared to my HomeGroup. I thought perhaps that might be a factor. However, even if I stop sharing, the results are the same. Most of my existing shared folders exhibit this behavior. However, if I add a folder to my Homegroup, search seems to work.


I just don't get it. I have successfully performed searches like this in Windows 7 all the time. Is Windows 10 just broken?

UPDATE: From my laptop (also Win10), I can search the Books HomeGroup share and find matches. However, going back to the desktop machine where the share resides, the same search fails.

UPDATE 2: On my desktop, if I remove D:\Users\Clayton from my indexed locations, searches work. This is repeatable. When indexed, search fails. When not indexed, search works. WTF?

:)

 

File Explorer has gone crazy after last nights upgrade.

My only has icons instead of full descriptions. I can not get back to a point where I have tabs that actually say something. Please tell me how to get my view repaired? help... Help.... HELP!!!

 

File Explorer Search Not Working

Thank you for the update.

We're glad that the has been resolved. There's a possibility that some of the Windows settings have changed due to Windows updates installation.

Feel free to post back should you need further help.

 

Perhaps my post is not clear. Here's (MEGA) a screencast demonstrating the problem.

 

So the search is finding off-PC content but not items on your PC itself?

Take a look at this page and see if that helps you.

Please take a screenshot of your indexing locations dialog.

 

Here's (https://mega.nz/#!s54wWb4Z!dEz0a6XBh...WrwEGyu2TXCeWA) another screencast that demonstrates results with indexing on and off.

 

What am I missing? I don't see anything different here...

 

Hi, is it as simple as this?
Set up your search and when you do, click in the search field, and the search tab, then make sure (under the Search tab) you click 'All subfolders' if that's what you want the search to do.

I know others have struggled with explorer search. It's about setting up which area it's searching, but not very intuitive.

Please ignore if irrelevant to your post- I didn't look at the videos.

 

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.

 

Improve Windows searches using the index: frequently asked questions - Windows Help



This is for windows 7, but it applies to windows 10 too:
It might be because of the security settings for that folder. For a folder and its content to be indexed, it must be configured with the System permission. Most folders already have this, but there are some cases where a folder might be missing theSystem permission.
To add the System permission to a folder

• Right-click the folder, click Properties, and then click the Security tab.
  
• If you don't see System listed under Group or user names, click Edit.
  
• Click Add, type System in the box that appears, and then click Check Names.
  
• Under Matching names, click System, and then click OK until all of the open dialog boxes you've opened are closed.

You'll need to rebuild the index once you've made this change.

 

You nailed it! Problem solved. Many thanks!

 

This worked for me too!

 

Hey guys,
Was searching for a solution to this exact problem and found you. I've tried the solutions, but unfortunately none of them seem to be working. The folders in question all have the relevant permissions, everything is indexed... The only difference is that the files are on a separate hard drive to my OS - shouldn't be a problem, surely?
Any other suggestions guys, because I'm really stuck here!!

cheers