How to use the Search Facility on Windows 10

Agh55 · 07 Jul 2020

Hi, I am probably making a very simple mistake but i cant find documents / images using the Widows 10 search facility. I have watched numerous YouTube videos which shows how to search for images. When I enter the text "Date:" in the Search field at the top RHS of the screen, i don't get a drop down menu showing a calendar( as shown in each video). On the top LHS of the screen there is a search facility but it only shows you can search for up to 1 year.

I want to be be able to search for images eg 01/01/2007 to 31-12-2007

Help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm using Windows 10 Ver 1909

dalchina · 07 Jul 2020

Hi, if you type (copy/paste) this:
date:1/1/2007.. 31/12/2007 kind:=picture

that should work, or you can try e.g.
date:1/1/2007.. 31/12/2007 type: png

Omit the space between : and png - if I don't it becomes an emoticon here.

for example.

In build 1903 (which I keep because of the changes made by MS to search in 1909) correct search syntax is highlighted in blue. This has been removed from 1909 onwards- very helpfully- by MS.

I can't confirm whether the drop down calendar still works in 1909- perhaps someone with that build will comment.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...s-aqsreference
Learning Windows Search: Use Advanced Query Syntax to Find Everything

idgat · 07 Jul 2020

Search facility in Windows 10 is grossly inadequate, unreliable and frequently inaccurate ... and slow.

Use a 3rd party search like
Ultrasearch
Agent Ransack
(both freeware)

dalchina · 07 Jul 2020

@idgat -

... and slow.

more accurately - slow if not indexed. Unfortunately to use Windows search you also have to understand it, which is why 3rd party tools look attractive, and why it's so unsuitable for general consumer use. Plus MS has been messing about with it, getting it more bad press.

Also doesn't address the issue as raised regarding use of Windows search.

Agh55 · 07 Jul 2020

Hi, and thanks for the responses;
Dalchina, you have helped me in the past, and again thanks, your first idea worked perfectly, however I hope you don't mind if I ask some other questions;
1: How do you search for Word, Excel am PowerPoint Documents, what would the command be.
2: How do you index your files, and can this be done on external drives.

dalchina · 07 Jul 2020

Great - I recommend you work through the links I posted:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...s-aqsreference
Learning Windows Search: Use Advanced Query Syntax to Find Everything

Word: you could use
*.docx
*.doc
*.rtf

Combining these:
*.docx OR *.rtf OR *.doc

- and you can add specification of size and date etc etc

Similarly *.xlsx or whatever you want - and of course you can specify characters from the filename in place of *

Note how you can use the ribbon to help you somewhat- but you can do more than is supported by the ribbon options.

How to use the Search Facility on Windows 10-untitled.png

If the external drive is shown here, you can add it.

How to use the Search Facility on Windows 10-1.png

Agh55 · 12 Jul 2020

Hi, I really appreciate your help and time and thanks. I have been able to find all my photos .

dalchina · 12 Jul 2020