In File Explorer, Quick Access I can search for files and will see results from Documents, Music, and Video. But to find anything in Pictures I have to navigate to that folder specifically to search it.
I've looked in vain for a setting that would let the Pictures folder be searchable along with the others. Anyone know how to fix this?
Hi, the key thing to look at is Indexing Options.
The only other setting particular to that folder I'm aware of that's relevant to search is this:
- but that's only about content indexing, not file names.
If you have difficulties relating to default indexing locations, this will help:
Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials
Option 3.
Indexing Options and Advanced Attributes are already set that way.
I've re-indexed at least a couple of times previously. I tried the .bat file anyway, but the window closes itself after displaying a few lines too quickly to read, so I'm not sure it's running correctly. In any case, a search for pictures still does not find any pics in the Pictures folder, sorry to say.
Thank you for your reply.
Please try adding a file to the Pictures folder whilst watching the number of indexed items. Wait a little, and if your PC is idle, you should see the number of indexed items increment.
Advise the result.
If the number of indexed items increments, can search then find that file?
If not, post a screenshot of file explorer showing the navigation pane, the file name sought and the search string used.
Last edited by dalchina; 30 Jul 2018 at 16:55.
The number of indexed files increments when I save a file to the Pictures folder.
The files show up when "Quick access" is selected, but a search which should find them, does not. When the Pictures folder is selected, the same search finds the files. Replicated three times. Screenshots for two times inserted below.
Pin or Unpin Quick Access Locations in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials
Try unpinning Pictures from Quick Access, then re-pinning it, then retry search from Quick Access.
The one thing missing from your screenshots is one of Quick Access showing the shortcuts there.
None of the folders (Documents, Music, Videos, Pictures) is pinned to Quick Access, yet searching finds contents in all of them except Pictures.
I pinned those 4 folders to QA, and search still does not find files in the Pictures folder when I have Quick Access selected in the left pane. The search works when I select either Quick Access > Pictures or This PC > Pictures.
However, I can find files in Documents, Music, and Video with just Quick Access selected, and I'd still like the Pictures folder to behave the same way.
The fact that you do not have your default library documents in Quick Access (the default) indicates you - or something- has removed them.
I've really no idea why your problem exists, and the lack of replies from others suggests similarly so so far.
You can try creating a new user for test purposes, and see what happens there. If that works, you would have a reference point for comparison. Perhaps some permissions issue? And if that works, it indicates it's definitely a user profile problem rather than Windows in general.
I suggest you examine the permissions and properties of your Pictures and one other folder and compare them.
You could try removing the Pictures library folder, and then recreating it.
(Copy and content out first, obviously).
Add or Remove Pictures Library in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials
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