Search in File Explorer not working properly

[jmt356]

Something is not working in Windows Search. When I try to search for words in files using File Explorer, only results that have the word search for in the file name turn up; files that have the searched word in their contents (e.g., as in the case of Word documents or searchable PDFs) do not turn up in the search results if the searched word is not in the file name.

This appears to have started several days ago, when Windows 10 underwent an automatic update. Any ideas as to how to get the search function to work properly as it did previously?

[HansV]

Click the Start button.
Type the following:

indexing options

Click on "Indexing Options Control Panel" in the search results.
Click Advanced.
Activate the File Types tab.
Select the option "Index Properties and File Contents".
Click OK.
You'll get a warning that this might take a long time. Click OK.

You may have to wait a while before searching file contents becomes effective.

[jmt356]

When I get to the File Types tab, there are many different file types (perhaps more than 100). Do I need to individually select each one and choose Index Properties and File Contents for each?

[Rudi]

Hi JMT,

You don't want to change ALL those extensions to search for content inside the file. If you do, your searches will take aeon's to complete!! If you are interested to search for contents in Word documents (or text files), go only to the extensions for "docx" or "txt" and change those to search for properties and file content.

For a good article on the process that Hans suggested, see here...

[DaveA]

For a VERY good search program get Search Everything and it is FREE

Go to http://www.voidtools.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and download the version for your system.
Using the "Advance Search" found under the "Search" in the menu brings you many options.
See the attachment as to where to enter for a word or phrase to search within a document.

This is a very fast search program.