Windows 10: File Explorer search syntax

Since local help files have become, for reasons I cannot fathom, anachronistic, I have been looking for current documentation on the use of the built-in file search tools on Windows 10. I'm in need of the full set of syntax and usage.


I can't find what I need because, paradoxically, I don't know what passes for syntax for Microsoft search engines and tools, so with having to guess, and I really shouldn't have to, so my search results are more about "it's broke, help me fix" nature, or development references, and lastly, IT admin tools, like power shells or other overkill options. I just want to learn how to make best use of the search tool on my local files.


Thank you.

:)

 

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.

 

Windows Syntax & Search


Hi, it seems the difficulty is that you must specify text from the start of the string.

The question is discussed here:
File Explorer how to search content using wildcards


Neither * nor ? are recognised as wild card characters in content search- * seems to be ignored.
(They are valid for filename search though).

What works (for me!)
abc*
abc
abc123

Note that
*abc finds the file, which might suggest
*3abc would, but it doesn't.

What doesn’t work:
*123abc
???123*
???123???
123abc
abc*abc

Advanced Query Syntax gives a lot of information, but is old and not complete.
Even 'How to Geek' only gives a simple example of text content search
Learning Windows Search: Use Boolean, Dates, and Wildcards to Give Your Searches a Boost

3rd party tools are just simpler.. even if they don't index content like this one:



Here I started from 'Everywhere' (both disks), specified txt documents containing 123abc

The result was fairly quick.