Windows 10: Windows 11 - Searching non-indexed locations for file contents - SOLUTION!

I discovered like so many others that searching for some keyword text in files in a non-indexed folder in Windows 11 DID NOT WORK.Lots of threads posted, lot's of suggested "solutions", lot's of frustrated Windows 11 users trying those "solutions/fixed" and still the functionality DID NOT WORK.In my case I was trying to search within python files extension ".py". The default for those is to NOT search contents. So I changed that default. Still no luck. Being a sw developer with many years of experience, I know sometimes the GUI and the low level code can get out of sync, so I unchecked File

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Search for file content in non-indexed locations depends on the type?

Hello together, TL;DR: File contents in non-indexed locations will only be found if the file types are otherwise indexed. Does searching even in non-indexed locations actually depend on settings in "Indexing Options/File Types? I noticed, that the search for file contents in the Windows search does not work despite the search setting "Advanced options/File contents (in non-indexed locations)", if the respective file extension is not listed in "Indexing Options/Advanced/File Types" and "Index Properties and File Contents" is not activated. And that even with folders that are not included in the "Index of these locations". Ergo - all or nothing. For example, if I want to search through non-indexed .log files, I have to index practically all .log files that are in indexed folders. If I deactivate the Windows Search service, the file contents are found - mostly at least, in my tests some files were not listed depending on whether they were previously in the index or not. However, it was partly not reproducible - it may well be that the testing was the reason. But turning off Windows Search completely is hardly a solution anyway - if only because of all the annoying "please turn it on again..." messages and if Outlook is to be used. It is well known that the Windows search is "improvable" to say the least, but that was new to me. Is that really normal, i.e. "by design"? Thanks and greetings, Martin

 

Search for file content in non-indexed locations depends on the type?

To other potential respondents: Please don't let this deteriorate into yet another knee-jerk review of 3rd party search tools as that doesn't contribute to answering the question. Thanks! =======================================================================

This does not quite make sense, I'm afraid. Do you mean

If so, that's exactly what you would logically expect. Normal.

- if you mean you want to do a content indexed search, the same logic applies. But you don't have to manually index them- if the folder in which they exist and .log files are checked for indexing they will be indexed when created. That should happen 'invisibly'. Perhaps you could illustrate the issue you have in mind with a couple of screenshots? The simplest option is to enable indexing on everything but system files- at least that's what I do, as I don't want to find system files using Windows search. Thus I can open file explorer at My PC for example, and readily find a file containing 'aardvark' as a test case.

Not sure what that means... I would say it's not a product suitable for the consumer market and requires proper understanding, and so is often misunderstood and despised. Many people - including some longer term members here- are confused by it, and the legacy of experiences from Windows XP still lingers. For example, you may be unfamiliar with the range and depth of search syntax available in file explorer's search box. So-called 'classic' search (as it was to build 1903 until MS bungled changing it around build 1909) can be reinstated with one tweak using e.g. Winaero's excellent free tweak tool.

 

Search Content of MHT files

Hi David,

Most probably, this is a problem with the search and indexing of your Windows 10 computer. For us to provide the best resolution possible, we would like to clarify the following:

• Are you trying to search the content of MHT files using Cortana?
• Have you tried searching it using the File Explorer?
• Are you using a third-party app to search for the content of MHT files?

As an initial troubleshooting step, we suggest that you run the troubleshooter for search and indexing. To run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter, follow these steps:

• Click the Start button and select the Settings
  icon.
• Choose Update & Security from the list.
• Click Troubleshoot in the left pane of the window.
• Under Find and fix other problems.
• Select Search and Indexing and click Run the troubleshooter.

We'll keep an eye out for your response.