Windows 10: Windows search not showing file contents

Discus and support Windows search not showing file contents in Windows 10 Support to solve the problem; (Issue is on System #2 in My Computer specs below) I re-indexed the directories I wanted to be indexed, and added one to the search options that... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Support' started by cbiweb, Jan 19, 2021.

  1. cbiweb Win User

    Windows search not showing file contents


    (Issue is on System #2 in My Computer specs below)

    I re-indexed the directories I wanted to be indexed, and added one to the search options that wasn't there before.
    I also specifically chose the "Index Properties and File Contents" option.

    When I search for a word or phrase that I know 100% is in a file, Windows says No items match your search.

    What else do I need to do??

    :)
     
    cbiweb, Jan 19, 2021
    #1

  2. 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.
     
    Gerard Qui, Jan 19, 2021
    #2
  3. Search contents of files with dynamic extensions

    Hello,

    Let me preface this by saying that I do not have administrator rights to the machine I'm asking about. I will need to get IT Support to actually fix this for me, but they sort of looked at me with their eyes glazed over when I tried to explain it to them. So, I figured I'd see if anyone here can give me some step-by-step instructions that I can provide to the folks with the password so that we can get this working.

    We have systems that pass information back and forth via xml. Periodically, I have to find a certain file, and the information that I have is never part of the file name. The folders in question have "Allow files in this folder to have contents indexed in addition to file properties" checked, and the files within the folders have "Allow this file to have contents indexed in addition to file properties" checked. The folders are on a network share, and System has Full Control.

    When I search for something that I know is in the contents of a file, nothing is found. I believe this has to do with the way windows searches various file types. I know that this is configurable in the Indexing Options (which I don't have access to), but here is the part I don't know how to handle.

    When the systems exchange the xml files, they append a number to it. Unfortunately, it's appended to the file extension. Here's an example of what the files look like in one of the folders:



    Windows search not showing file contents [​IMG]


    (hopefully that image is bigger in the post than it is in the compose window. can't figure out how to resize it.)

    The file extensions are things like:

    XML_4501316
    XML_4504951
    XML_4624566

    It would be impossible to add every file extension to the Indexing Options list. So, my question is, does anyone know a way that Windows 10 can be configured so that I can search the contents of these files? And can it be done in one fell swoop by the IT Support group such that it works after that? (i.e. a solution that requires me to change a setting before I search every time won't work.)

    If it matters; Win10Pro, 64 bit (I think they're all 64, but just in case).

    Thanks to anyone who has a suggestion. I would love a solution that doesn't require me to open hundreds of files to ctrl + f in them.

    Mike
     
    mikelee101, Jan 19, 2021
    #3
  4. Windows search not showing file contents

    Windows 10 search is not searching for file contents in OneDrive folder

    Hi,



    Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



    We understand your concern as Windows 10 search is not searching for file contents in OneDrive folder.



    In this scenario, we would suggest you to perform these steps and check Windows 10 search is able to search the file in OneDrive folder.

    1. Press Windows + I key to launch
      Windows Settings
      .
    2. Select Cortana and click
      Permissions & History
      from the left pane.
    3. Toggle the Windows Cloud Search switch to
      On, which present under Cloud Search.
    4. Restart the page and then initiate Windows Search.


    However, we do have a dedicated support team for OneDrive related queries, you can get in touch with them for further assistance. Follow the below steps to contact the OneDrive support team.



    Sign in to OneDrive.com from any browser, click the ‘?’ help icon on the top banner of the page and select
    Email OneDrive support. Submit your question and follow the prompts to request support.



    Regards,



    Aditya Roy

    Microsoft Community – Moderator
     
    Aditya_Roy, Jan 19, 2021
    #4
Thema:

Windows search not showing file contents

Loading...
  1. Windows search not showing file contents - Similar Threads - search showing file

  2. Searching contents of files

    in Windows 10 Network and Sharing
    Searching contents of files: How do I search the contents of files, when in a window, on my Win 10 PC? https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/searching-contents-of-files/fcfa5df8-ea72-4a64-8ef5-143da56bb26e
  3. Searching contents of files

    in Windows 10 Gaming
    Searching contents of files: How do I search the contents of files, when in a window, on my Win 10 PC? https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/searching-contents-of-files/fcfa5df8-ea72-4a64-8ef5-143da56bb26e
  4. Searching contents of files

    in Windows 10 Software and Apps
    Searching contents of files: How do I search the contents of files, when in a window, on my Win 10 PC? https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/searching-contents-of-files/fcfa5df8-ea72-4a64-8ef5-143da56bb26e
  5. Windows Search and file content

    in Windows 10 Network and Sharing
    Windows Search and file content: I have been using Windows since Windows 95, and never found the Windows Search useful. On Linux, you can just run a "grep" command and find files with the content you search for, but the Windows Search GUI almost never finds even key-names in JSON files. Why can it just...
  6. Windows Search and file content

    in Windows 10 Gaming
    Windows Search and file content: I have been using Windows since Windows 95, and never found the Windows Search useful. On Linux, you can just run a "grep" command and find files with the content you search for, but the Windows Search GUI almost never finds even key-names in JSON files. Why can it just...
  7. Windows Search and file content

    in Windows 10 Software and Apps
    Windows Search and file content: I have been using Windows since Windows 95, and never found the Windows Search useful. On Linux, you can just run a "grep" command and find files with the content you search for, but the Windows Search GUI almost never finds even key-names in JSON files. Why can it just...
  8. Start menu search shows no results for file contents

    in Windows 10 Software and Apps
    Start menu search shows no results for file contents: Windows 10. i want to search for file contents. Is it possible to do that via start menu search? or do I always need to open the file explorer there it is possible to search for file contents. That would be inconvenient. It should be possible to search for file contents via...
  9. Start menu search shows no results for file contents

    in Cortana
    Start menu search shows no results for file contents: Windows 10. i want to search for file contents. Is it possible to do that via start menu search? or do I always need to open the file explorer there it is possible to search for file contents. That would be inconvenient. It should be possible to search for file contents via...
  10. Searching for contents of file NAME not the contents of files?????

    in Windows 10 Ask Insider
    Searching for contents of file NAME not the contents of files?????: I have maybe 500 files in a folder, one file for each model of our products. The thing about the model names is that the number of the model is at the end of the file name, like C19QZHW203 and the name of the next model number might be C19WRZT204, in other words, I cant sort...