Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Open File Explorer, choose where to search, then enter a filename, a file-type pattern such as *.pdf, or a word from a document. Searching inside documents depends on Windows indexing the contents of that file type; filenames and paths are indexed by default.
Choose where to search
Open File Explorer and start from a folder where you expect the file to be. A search from a specific folder is narrower and can help you find a result faster. To search more broadly, select This PC in the navigation pane and enter your query in the search box. Microsoft says a This PC search is slower but more in-depth than a search from Home. You can also use taskbar search to find documents across your PC and OneDrive, then filter results to documents. Microsoft’s Windows search guidance describes these options.
| Where you search | What it covers | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| A likely folder | That folder and its contents | Narrower scope can reduce irrelevant results. |
| This PC | A broader search across the computer | Microsoft describes it as slower but more in-depth than searching from Home. |
| Taskbar search | Documents across the PC and OneDrive | Filter the results to documents when needed. |
Search by filename or file type
Find a file by name
In File Explorer’s search box, type the full filename or a distinctive part of it. If you remember only a fragment, use that rather than guessing the whole name. Check that you have selected a search location broad enough to include the file.
Find files by extension
Enter a wildcard pattern using an asterisk and the extension. For example, *.pdf finds PDF files, *.docx finds Word documents in that format, and *.jpg finds JPEG images with that extension. Microsoft’s examples also include *.doc for Word documents and *.mp3 for audio files. The extension indicates the file type; it does not search for words inside the file. See Microsoft’s list of common file name extensions.
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If extensions are not visible in File Explorer, turn them on using View > Show > File name extensions. This makes it easier to identify the extension to use in a pattern.
Search for words inside documents
For a word or phrase in a document, search from a location Windows indexes and make sure the relevant file type is configured to include content. Windows indexes file names and full paths by default, but searching document text depends on the file type’s content-indexing setting. A type set to index properties only can still be found by filename, but its contents will not be searchable.
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- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Search.
- Under Classic indexing, choose Customize search locations to review which folders are included.
- In Advanced indexing options, open File Types and inspect the setting for the extension you want to search. For content searches, it must index properties and content, not properties only.
- Return to File Explorer, search the indexed location for the word or phrase, and allow indexing to finish if the location or file type was just added or changed.
Microsoft explains the relationship between indexing mode, locations, and per-type content settings in its Windows Search indexing guidance.
Choose Classic or Enhanced indexing
Indexing helps Windows find files and, where configured, their contents. The mode determines how much of the PC is covered. Classic indexes common folders by default; Enhanced covers a wider area and can use more system resources.
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| Indexing mode | Default coverage | Resource consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | Common folders such as Documents, Pictures, Music, and Desktop; you can add locations. | Focused on common locations rather than the whole PC. |
| Enhanced | The whole PC, including user folders and files. | May use more system resources, according to Microsoft. |
Initial indexing can take up to a couple of hours, according to Microsoft; after that, the index updates in the background as files change. Until indexing completes, searches that rely on newly added locations or content may not return everything.
Fix missing search results
If you know a file exists but cannot find it, check the likely causes in this order:
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- Search scope: Search the file’s folder, then broaden to This PC if needed.
- Indexed location: Confirm that the folder is included in Classic indexing, or use Enhanced indexing if you need whole-PC coverage.
- Content setting: For a missing word-in-document result, check whether that file type indexes properties and content rather than properties only.
- Indexing progress: Newly included locations may not be fully searchable until initial indexing finishes.
- Hidden file: Check whether the file is hidden if it does not appear in results.
- Indexing issue: Microsoft recommends the Search and Indexing troubleshooter in Advanced indexing options.
For more troubleshooting steps, see Microsoft’s guide to finding files and apps in Windows.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Copilot+ PCs: semantic search is an additional option
On Copilot+ PCs, semantic indexing supplements traditional indexing for supported formats, which can let search return conceptually related items rather than only matching the exact words. Microsoft lists document support for .txt, .pdf, .docx, .doc, .rtf, .pptx, .ppt, .xls, and .xlsx, and image support for .jpg/.jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp, and .ico. Microsoft says semantic-indexing data is stored locally on the PC; on supported AI-enabled Windows 365 devices, it is stored locally in Cloud PC storage. Microsoft recommends doing initial indexing while the device is plugged into power. This feature is specific to Copilot+ PCs and is not required for ordinary filename, extension, or indexed-content searches. Microsoft’s indexing documentation gives the supported-format and storage details.
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Windows version note
Microsoft’s file-search and indexing guidance covers Windows 10 and Windows 11, but menu labels can vary by version. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, according to Microsoft’s support page, so Windows 10 users should treat the steps as version-sensitive. Find your files and apps in Windows.
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