Windows 10: Why cant the File Search function search for files using partial names?

Something that has plagued me since I began using Windows 10 is how awful the file search function is.


In EVERY case I use the file search function it is to locate a specific file within a singular folder with only a partial name, and each time I was mystified as to why it works so unreliably.

The final straw was when I tried to quickly locate a single file within a folder of 5 files with the second word in the file name of my desired file and it came up empty handed. My issue lies with the inability of the search function to pick out words within names that dont have spaces between them.


For instance, if my file name was "HotDog.png", I would be unable to search for that file with the secondary word. Searching for "Dog" will skip this file.

I have to ask the question: Why cant the File Search function search for files using partial names?What purpose does a search function even serve if you have to be 100% correct with the file name you're looking for? And why is there no option to allow for partial name searches?


I get that if a user decided to search their entire computer for a file called "r" and it allowed for partial names in searches it would begin trying to pull every file with an r in the name. But searching for a file within a user made folder should ALWAYS account for partial name searchs!


Thanks,

Brian

:)

 

File Explorer Search fails wildcard partial numeric name search.

The indexing trouble shooter did not find any problem.
System File Check result was: Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 10.0.10586.0 found No component store corruption detected.

I do not believe that my system has any problem as the wildcard partial numeric name search issue occurs on all Windows 10 systems of family and friends.
I believe the priority of this issue should be raised because the Search Results vary depending on the number of files involved creating confusion and incorrect results. With less than 40 files the wildcard partial numeric name search returns the correct
results. With more than 50 files the wildcard search becomes a whole number search only listing files that have the exact number. With *2345 in the search box and more than 50 files in focus, Search will Not list 123456.txt but will only list 2345.txt.
With less than 40 files in focus All files with any numeric string containing 2345 will be listed.

 

File Explorer Search fails wildcard partial numeric name search.

Wildcard Searches in a single folder that has less than 50 empty files with 10 character filenames and that does not have any subfolders work as expected. More characters in the filename will cause the Search to fail with fewer files. With fewer characters
the Search will not fail until more than 50 files exist.

If subfolders exist then their contents affect Search failure. In testing I created a new folder and used “New Text Document” to create files with numeric names like: 1234567890.txt, 2345678901.txt etc. Using *2345 in the Search box every 10 or so files added,
worked as expected listing all files that had 2345 as part of the name, but after the 50th file was added the Search results showed only files that started with 2345. These results continued with shorter searches like: *3 should have listed all 50 files but
instead only listed files that started with the number 3.

I have rebuilt the Indexing Options many times including selecting only the test folder, which had no affect at all.

My actual filenames are quite long, all start with alpha acronyms or abbreviations followed by a dash, model and part number. There are over a thousand files in 8 sub folders. My real Searches are for a partial model number. This problem has cost me many
hours of research and recreating what I thought were missing drawings and documents.

 

can not use search function with partial matched letter or word not from the beginning of a file name using quick access function in file explorer in windows 10

Hi:

I have a problem in searching for a file when I typing in numbers or letters that partially match to a file name using quick access function in file explorer in my windows 10 computer. To be specific, if I type in letters or words that are partially match
a file name but not from the beginning of a file name, the search is failed, can not pick up the file, only when i type in letters or words that match the beginning of a file name, the search works. Do you know how to fix this? I can do the same search when
using window 7 or 8, but not for windows 10. Thank you very much!