Windows 10: Search in File Explorer in Windows 10

How to: Search in File Explorer in Windows 10

How to Search in File Explorer in Windows 10


The Search Box in File Explorer allows you to find and view all your files and folders in one place.

As you type in the Search Box, a simple search through the index begins to match your typed text with folder names, files names, the contents of files, and file properties. It will then display the search results in File Explorer.

You can also perform an advanced search using Search Tools from the ribbon to find files or folders by date (taken, modified, or created), folder path, kind, name, rating, size, property tags, and/or type.

This tutorial will show you how to use the Search Box in File Explorer to perform a simple and advanced search for your files and folders in Windows 10.



Here's How:

1 Open the folder, drive, or network location you want to search within in File Explorer (Win+E).

2 Click/tap in the Search Box to have the Search tab for Search Tools in the ribbon available. (see screenshot below)



3 In the Search tab of the ribbon, select the location filter ("This PC", "Current folder", or "All subfolders") you want to search in. (see screenshot below)
[table][tr][td]Location Filter[/td] [td]Description[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]This PC[/td] [td]Search this pc.[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Current folder[/td] [td]Search only in the selected folder, and not in any subfolders.[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]All subfolders[/td] [td]Search in the selected folder and all of its subfolders.[/td] [/tr] [/table]



4 Type what you want to search (ex: "*.txt") for in the Search Box to start a simple search. (see screenshot below)

If you like, you can select a recent search from your search history to use instead.











5 If you like, you can now perform an advanced search by using any of the Search Tools below to refine your search results.

• Date modified
• Kind
• Size
• Other properties

To use "Date modified" filter to refine search results by
A) In the Search tab, click/tap on Date modified in the ribbon, and select a date to search by. (see screenshot below)



B) If you need to further adjust the Date modified filter, click/tap on it in the Search Box, and select a date or date range to search by. (see screenshot below)




To use "Kind" filter to refine search results by
A) In the Search tab, click/tap on Kind in the ribbon, and select a file kind to search by. (see screenshot below)



B) If you need to further adjust the file Kind filter, click/tap on it in the Search Box, and select a different file kind to search by. (see screenshot below)




To use "Size" filter to refine search results by
A) In the Search tab, click/tap on Size in the ribbon, and select a file size range to search by. (see screenshot below)



B) If you need to further adjust the file Size filter, click/tap on it in the Search Box, and select a different file size range to search by. (see screenshot below)




To use "Other properties" filter to refine search results by
A) In the Search tab, click/tap on Other properties in the ribbon, and select a file property to search by. (see screenshot below)



B) Type what you want to search by in the Search Box for the selected file property. (see screenshots below)

For some common search syntax to use for this, see: Advanced Query Syntax (Windows)











6 If needed, you could click/tap on search again in in the Search tab and select a different location to search in. (see screenshot below)



7 If you like, you can save this search with the current filters to make it easier and faster to perform on demand. (see screenshot below)



8 If you see the file or folder you were searching for in the search results, then you can select it, and click/tap on Open file location in the Search tab ribbon to be taken to its source location. (see screenshot below)




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Change Search Options 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

:)

 

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.

 

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 10 File Explorer search tool not working

I have tried all the above steps but I am unable to find and search a file with email address as search key.

Please help.

Regards

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi

 

File explorer not searching in This PC

Hi George,

I am sorry to know that you are facing issues with Windows 10.

I suggest you to reset Windows explorer and check the behavior.

Please follow the steps:

• 
  Right click on the task Bar and select Task Manager.
  
• 
  Select Processes tab.
  
• 
  Choose windows explorer and right click on it.
  
• 
  Select end task
  
• 
  Click on file menu and select run new task.
  
• 
  Type explorer.exe
  
• 
  Click on ok.
  

Hope this helps in resolving the issue with Windows Explorer. If the issue persists, do get back to us. We will be happy to assist you.


Regards,