Search in the Explorer

It is of course nice if you have a clear folder structure in the Explorer. This generally guides you to the file you need. But if you don’t really know in which subfolder something is stored or there are a lot of documents in a folder and you just want to find the document quickly, then the Explorer has a handy search function.

Use the search function in the Explorer like this:

• Open the Explorer. Click on the folder icon in the Taskbar.
• The Explorer opens. At the top right is the Explorer search bar. It says ‘Search in’. Behind ‘Search in’ is the folder that you have currently opened in the Explorer. If you want to search your documents, click on the left This PC > Documents.
• The text ‘Search Documents’ appears in the search bar. Click on the search bar.
• Type a keyword that corresponds to the file you are looking for.
• As you type, the search begins. Type the word to get the best results.
• Press Enter.
• Double-click on a found document to open it.

If you get a lot of hits with a search, enter a few characteristics of the file you are looking for. For example, when it was last modified or what type of file it is.

• In Windows 10, at the top, click To search > Modified on. In Windows 11, click Search options > Modified on.
• For example, click Yesterday, This week or This month.
• In Windows 10, within the “Search” group, click Kind. In Windows 11, click Search options > Kind.
• For example, click Image, Document or Music.