File Explorer Search Not Working

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  1. Posts : 81
    Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit 21H1
       #1

    File Explorer Search Not Working


    Recently, I have observed the Search feature of the File Explorer does not work (e.g., No items match your search). The folders I'm searching are indexed. I've tried rebuilding the index. I can even drill down to a folder I know contains the sought file and entering a search word in the file's name and search returns nothing.


    For example, D:\Users\Clayton is indexed with no exclusions (all subdirectories included). I can search from D:\Users\Clayton\Books for 'code'. That folder has many subfolders with files containing 'code' in the filename/contents. Yet search returns nothing.


    D:\Users\Clayton\Books is shared to my HomeGroup. I thought perhaps that might be a factor. However, even if I stop sharing, the results are the same. Most of my existing shared folders exhibit this behavior. However, if I add a folder to my Homegroup, search seems to work.


    I just don't get it. I have successfully performed searches like this in Windows 7 all the time. Is Windows 10 just broken?

    UPDATE: From my laptop (also Win10), I can search the Books HomeGroup share and find matches. However, going back to the desktop machine where the share resides, the same search fails.

    UPDATE 2: On my desktop, if I remove D:\Users\Clayton from my indexed locations, searches work. This is repeatable. When indexed, search fails. When not indexed, search works. WTF?
    Last edited by claytoncarney; 16 Dec 2015 at 12:44.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 81
    Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Perhaps my post is not clear. Here's (https://mega.nz/#!okoRGRZS!gWh__sOakRUfzc5SScXBi5r19JG7I384TKCKDcwu6jc) a screencast demonstrating the problem.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 7,254
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #3

    So the search is finding off-PC content but not items on your PC itself?

    Take a look at this page and see if that helps you.

    Please take a screenshot of your indexing locations dialog.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 81
    Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #4

    File Explorer Search Not Working-indexing-options.png
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 81
    Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Here's (https://mega.nz/#!s54wWb4Z!dEz0a6XBh...WrwEGyu2TXCeWA) another screencast that demonstrates results with indexing on and off.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 81
    Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #6

    swarfega said:
    Take a look at this page and see if that helps you.
    What am I missing? I don't see anything different here...
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 42,636
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #7

    Hi, is it as simple as this?
    Set up your search and when you do, click in the search field, and the search tab, then make sure (under the Search tab) you click 'All subfolders' if that's what you want the search to do.

    I know others have struggled with explorer search. It's about setting up which area it's searching, but not very intuitive.

    Please ignore if irrelevant to your post- I didn't look at the videos.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 21
    Win 10 Pro
       #8

    I am trying to search in File Explorer (Windows Explorer, My Computer) and it will not find anything. I can copy text from a name in the list and paste it in the search box and it still finds nothing. I have looked at the suggestions that have been posted and nothing I find that is relative to this works. Anyone have any suggestions? I am running Win 10 Pro on an I3 coustom desktop computer.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2
    windows 10
       #9

    claytoncarney said:
    File Explorer Search Not Working-indexing-options.png
    Improve Windows searches using the index: frequently asked questions - Windows Help



    This is for windows 7, but it applies to windows 10 too:
    It might be because of the security settings for that folder. For a folder and its content to be indexed, it must be configured with the System permission. Most folders already have this, but there are some cases where a folder might be missing theSystem permission.
    To add the System permission to a folder

    • Right-click the folder, click Properties, and then click the Security tab.
    • If you don't see System listed under Group or user names, click Edit.
    • Click Add, type System in the box that appears, and then click Check Names.
    • Under Matching names, click System, and then click OK until all of the open dialog boxes you've opened are closed.



    You'll need to rebuild the index once you've made this change.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 81
    Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Marina said:
    For a folder and its content to be indexed, it must be configured with the System permission.
    You nailed it! Problem solved. Many thanks!
      My Computer


 

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