Windows 10: Windows search not finding exe files of portable apps?

Hi, I'm used to starting most apps by hitting the Win button and starting typing the name of the app, which sends me to search results. This way I can quickly start even apps that don't have icons on the desktop or quick launch bar.

It used to work for my portable apps too but now it doesn't. All my portable apps are in a separate folder (eg. C:\Portable\Keepass\Keepass.exe). When I type "keepass" in the search box, it gives me no results. I tried creating a shortcut on desktop too, thinking that Win maybe doesn't index all folders in root but should index what's on desktop, but it didn't help either.

It used to work. Any idea what went wrong? (Win 10 1909, never even got the option to update to 2004).

submitted by /u/sursumcz
[link] [comments]

:)

 

Windows 10 not finding exe files in search

This was asked before but I'm gonna ask it again because the solution for the previous answers no longer works, (since MS took off the registery key in Redstone 1).

So my problem involves Cortana search. Whenever I search for a non-installed exe standalone, it cannot find it.

This is NOT a Windows Indexing issue, for this is happening on all my computers, including one with a clean install + my friends computer. (plus I rebuilt indexing and everything under C:\ is indexed)

This is ONLY for standalone exe's. It can find all files (.xml, .pdf, .doc, .random) EXCEPT exe's.

To reproduce this bug

• Open up Notepad
  
• Write a blank document, something like "hello" and save it as something.exe
  
• File -> Save as -> Save as type: All files -> something.exe
  
• Try searching for the file in Start search, you won't be able to find it UNLESS you rename it to something.random (or anything BUT exe)
  

I'm a developer and therefor I have lots of exe's compiled by Visual Studio, and I want to be able to find and run them easily from Start. Not only that, but I also want to open portable apps.

Any fix for this? It's really bugging the hell out of me and I want to downgrade to Windows 7 again.

 

Windows 10 search won't find files, folders and exe's

Hi Sannie,



Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community. I understand your concern and I am glad to assist you.

Appreciate your efforts in trying to resolve the issue.

Step 1:
I would suggest you to try the search and indexing inbuilt troubleshooter and check if it helps for you.

Please follow the steps:

• 
  Type troubleshooter in the search bar and click on it.
  
• 
  Select view all on the left panel of your screen.
  
• 
  From the troubleshooter list, Click on search and indexing
  and follow the on-screen instructions.
  

Step 2: Perform an SFC (System File Checker) scan on your system for any corrupted file settings.

• Press Windows + X on your keyboard.
• Select Command prompt admin.
• At the command prompt type “sfc /scannow” (no quotes), and then press ENTER.

Note: Do not close this Command Prompt window until the verification is 100% complete. The scan results will be shown after this process is finished.



Hope this post is helpful. Get back to us with the results. We are happy to help.

 

windows 10 search option doesn't find apps

Did more testing, confirmed .exe was being indexed. Windows 10 search doesn't find exe's anywhere, not on desktop, downloads or any other indexed location. It only finds installed apps on the My Apps list.

I did find ClassicShell (classicshell.net) Window 7 search does find exe's. It found zuma.exe on the desktop and adwcleaner.exe in a Utilities folder on my desktop. Searching for *.exe found 300+ in various folders, some not even indexed. I even made a
fake putty.exe on my desktop by renaming a text file, it found it.

Looks like Windows 10 search is filtering exe's.