Windows 10: Change Search Options in Windows 10

How to: Change Search Options in Windows 10

How to Change Search Options in Windows 10


Information When you perform a search in File Explorer, Windows uses the search options you set to customize the search results.

You can turn on or off the following search options:

• Don't use the index when searching in file folders for system files (searches might take longer)
• Include system directories when searching non-indexed locations
• Include compressed files (ZIP, CAB...) when searching non-indexed locations
• Always search file names and contents when searching non-indexed locations (this might take several minutes)

This tutorial will show you how to change search options to customize search results for your account in Windows 10.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Change Search Options in Folder Options
• Option Two: To Restore Search Options to Defaults
• Option Three: To Change Search Options using a REG file

OPTION ONE [/i] To Change Search Options in Folder Options
1. Open Folder Options.

2. Click/tap on the Search tab, check or uncheck the options you want, and click/tap on OK to apply. (see screenshot below)








OPTION TWO [/i] To Restore Search Options to Defaults
1. Open Folder Options.

2. Click/tap on the Search tab, click/tap on the Restore Defaults button, and click/tap on OK to apply. (see screenshot below)








OPTION THREE [/i] To Change Search Options using a REG file


Note The .reg files below will modify the DWORD values in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Search\Preferences
WholeFileSystem DWORD

0 = (uncheck) Don't use the index when searching in file folders for system files
1 = (check) Don't use the index when searching in file folders for system files

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Search\Preferences
SystemFolders DWORD

0 = (uncheck) Include system directories when searching non-indexed locations
1 = (check) Include system directories when searching non-indexed locations

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Search\Preferences
ArchivedFiles DWORD

0 = (uncheck) Include compressed files (ZIP, CAB...) when searching non-indexed locations
1 = (check) Include compressed files (ZIP, CAB...) when searching non-indexed locations

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Search\PrimaryProperties\UnindexedLocations
SearchOnly DWORD

0 = (check) Always search file names and contents when searching non-indexed locations
1 = (uncheck) Always search file names and contents when searching non-indexed locations

1. Do step 2 (Don't use the index), step 3 (Include system directories), step 4 (Include compressed files), and/or step 5 (Always search file names and contents) below for which search options you would like to change.


2. Don't use the index when searching in file folders for system files
A) Click/tap on the Download button below you want to use to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Do_not_use_index_when_searching_in_file_folders_for_system_files.reg

Download

OR

Use_index_when_searching_in_file_folders_for_system_files.reg
NOTE: This is the default setting.

Download

3. Include system directories when searching non-indexed locations
A) Click/tap on the Download button below you want to use to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Do_not_include_system_directories_when_searching_non-indexed_locations.reg

Download

OR

Include_system_directories_when_searching_non-indexed_locations.reg
NOTE: This is the default setting.

Download

4. Include compressed files (ZIP, CAB...) when searching non-indexed locations
A) Click/tap on the Download button below you want to use to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Include_compressed_files_when_searching_non-indexed_locations.reg

Download

OR

Do_not_include_compressed_files_when_searching_non-indexed_locations.reg
NOTE: This is the default setting.

Download

5. Always search file names and contents when searching non-indexed locations
A) Click/tap on the Download button below you want to use to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

Always_search_file_names_and_contents_when_searching_non-indexed_locations.reg

Download

OR

Do_not_always_search_file_names_and_contents_when_searching_non-indexed_locations.reg
NOTE: This is the default setting.

Download
6. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

7. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

8. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

9. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Search in File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Save a Search in Windows 10
• How to Change 'When typing into list view' Action in Windows 10 File Explorer
• How to Clear File Explorer Search History in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer
• How to Create a Search Shortcut in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Search Indexing in Windows
• How to Create an Indexing Options Shortcut in Windows 10
• How to Reset and Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Windows
• How to Add or Remove File Types for Search Index in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Locations for Search Index in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations in Windows
• How to Enable or Disable Advanced Indexing Options in Windows
• How to Turn On or Off Indexing Contents and Properties of Files on a Drive in Windows
• How to Turn On or Off Search Indexer Respect Device Power Mode Settings in Windows 10

:)

 

Search option is not working properly in Windows 10

Hi,



Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

• 
  Are you referring to Magnifier in windows?
  
• 
  Are you facing issues with Magnifier or Search bar?
  
• 
  Since when are you facing this issue?
  
• 
  Did you make any changes prior to this issue?
  

I suggest you to follow the steps below and check if it helps.

Step 1: Restart the Service and check if it helps.

• 
  Press Windows key + R.
  
• 
  Type Services.msc In the search box.
  
• 
  Select Windows Search.
  
• 
  Restart the services and set the service as Automatic.
  

Step 2: Run the
Search and Indexing troubleshooter.

Follow the steps below and check if it helps.

• 
  Press Windows key +X, select Control panel.
  
• 
  Change the view by option on the top right to
  Large icons.
  
• 
  Click on troubleshooting and click on the
  view all option on the left panel.
  
• 
  Run the Search and Indexing
  troubleshooter.
  

Reply with necessary information so that we can assist you better.

 

Edge Search Does Not Permit Change of Region


I got these suggestions from the Microsoft Community forum.No. 1 worked for me:

Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community. I am glad to assist you on this.
We have reproduce the issue here and we are able to access non-regional search for google using Microsoft Edge.
I would suggest you to try the below steps and check if it helps.
Step 1:
Clear browsing data option of Microsoft Edge and check if you face the issue. To do so perform the steps below.

1. Click on the More actions icon next to the feedback icon present on top right corner of the Project Spartan homepage.
2. Select Settings and click on Choose what to clear.
3. Check the boxes Browsing history, Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and files and click on Clear.

Step 2:
I suggest you to create a new user account and check if the issue occurs.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Choose Accounts and then select Family and other users.
3. Select add someone else on this PC.
4. Enter a user name and hit next.
5. Click on Finish.
6. Sign out from the current Account and Log into the new account.

Step 3:
It could also happen because of network issue. I suggest you to try with different network connection and check if it helps.

 

HyperSLI (Enabling SLI on non-sli motherboards)

To turn off windows updates in windows 7 follow these steps:

Click the start button, in the search box type in 'windows updates', click on 'windows update'
in the search results list, in the left side of the windows update window click 'change settings'
then in the option bar select 'Never check for updates'.

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

Windows 10 search not indexing Outlook 2013, no search results

Hi,

Thank you for your interest in using Windows 10.

Let's diagnose the issue by referring to the following suggestion and check if that helps you.

First of all, I would suggest you to check if the
Windows Search Service is running in Automatic mode under the list of Windows services. You can follow the steps to check and start the
Windows Search again:

• Press Windows+R keys to open Run. Type “servces.msc” without quotes and hit
  Enter.
• From the list of services, locate the Windows Search Support Service
  and Windows Search Service.
• Right click on the Windows Search Service
  and then click on Properties.
• Check if the service is running. If not, start the service and change the
  Startup type to Automatic.
• Follow the same steps to start the Bluetooth service
  and change the startup type to Automatic.

You can also try the following suggestion.

Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter. Follow the steps mentioned below.

• Press “Windows key + W”.
• Type “Troubleshooting” without quotes in the Search box and hit enter.
• Select “View all” option from the left panel.
• Select “Search and Indexing”.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter.

Hope this information helps you. Please do let us know if you need further assistance.