Windows 10: Sorting File Explorer Search output by Folder path

Possibly after editing, this may be useful as a tutorial -- but note the problem at the end ...
(sorting in Windows File Explorer may not always work correctly).

I tried to include all of the steps. I did not know how to capture a screen shot of the active
window while the Ribbon was present (to set the View to Details) and
while the context menu was visible (when right-clicking on one of the column headers).

In performing a search, I used the Search Box in File Explorer.
I don't let my PC access OneDrive or Google Docs -- generally,
I do only searches just on my PC or just on the Web.

1. Perform a search.

2. Set the View to Details (if it isn't already).





3. (if the Folder path column is not already present...)
Right-Click on any of the column headers.
A context menu appears.
4. Select More in the context menu.





A Choose Details dialog box appears.

(5. You can uncheck the box next to Folders - to get rid of the Folders column).





6. Check the box next to Folder path - to make the Folder path column appear (you'll have to scroll down to find it).
7. Then, click on the Ok box to dismiss the dialog box and save the changes to the Details View.





8. With the Folder path column now present, click on its column header to sort the listing by Folder path.
(The next picture shows the result after clicking on the Folder path column header.)





It is unfortunate that either Microsoft forces the search to be re-done or it was something they missed on their part.
If you want to sort the output using another column header (or reverse the sort order), each time you click on a column header, the search is re-done. Based on what I have read on doing searches in Windows 10, it's possible that Microsoft is currently placing more emphasis on searching using Cortana -- this may be why local file searches using File Explorer do not appear to work as well as they did in Windows 7.

Finally, if you take a closer look at the picture showing the final result, you'll note that the sorting did not work as expected (or at least as I expected). Thus, it appears that sorting in Windows File Explorer may not always work correctly. I have not thoroughly tested this, but there may be a strong dependence of ordering search results in File Explorer on what one uses to search on.

Eugenio

:)

 

Sort files AND folders by "Date Modified" in File Explorer

There is no option in Explorer to sort folders with files for any property in a regular Explorer view. So your options are:

• A third-party file manager that has this option.
• PowerShell: using a command like:
  
  gci | sort LastWriteTime
• Using Explorer's Search bar

If you type an asterisk (*) in the Search bar of an Explorer window, the results will be all files and folders in the folder
as well as all subfolders. But you can then use Group by -> Folder Path and right-click
on a Group heading and select Collapse all groups and then expand only your target folder. As with a normal Explorer view, column headers in Detail view can be clicked to sort on that column.

Keith

 

Finding folder using Windows 10 file explorer.

Thanks for your answer, but perhaps I was not clear enough with my question. I use the search for a file and the file is found and the path is shown. However, I cannot find the folder (thus the file) used in the designated path using Windows Explorer.

 

Hi, explorer search has a number of quirks, and add to that the search syntax and indexed vs non-indexed search, + Cortana's My Stuff search searching only what's indexed and you have a somewhat chaotic situation.

Personally I use Locate32 (freeware) - indexes very fast initially and thereafter maintained, and ordering by path simply requires clicking the column header. Everything by Void Tools is similar in basic concept but more modern.

Note: to capture a screenshot of context menu/ribbon etc you can simply use the long standing 'Print Screen' feature- a keyboard combo.