Windows File Search Not Working Properly Anymore

Hi, I'm assuming you're referring to file explorer search, rather than the search bar (by default) on the taskbar.

MS made changes to search in build 1909 - widely reported. Google
search broken 1909

At first there were big problems with simply clicking there. Susbsequent updates improved that, and there are more 'under the hood' changes coming in built 20H1/2004 - should be released soon.

However, the search syntax e.g.
type:mp3 datecreated: 19/3/19 .. 20/8/19 size: <10Mb

is no longer highlighted in blue from 1909 - which was very helpful to indicate the incompletely specified syntax was correct.

If you want search as was, you'd need to stay with build 1903.
(You can't revert after the default roll-back period without either
- a clean install
- restoring a disk image or clone created of 1903

You can find plenty of discussion about this here in the thread under the 1909 release and subsequent updates in the News section and elsewhere on tenforums.

I think you've been lucky in the opast having it work, more so than unluckey now having it broken.

Windows/File Explorer search has always been hit and miss - for both accuracy and speed.

Despite the protestations of the purist, there is a place and role for 3rd party search programs ...
- Ultrasearch
- Everything
- Agent Ransack
Each has its shortcomings, but still far better than the flaky and unstable Windows search options.

Windows search works reliably for me (I'm still on 1903!)- unfortunately you have to be very aware of some basic limitations, which can be frustrating unless you configure what is indexed appropriately to your needs (Indexing Options)

My view: it's not really designed to be user friendly. You need to be aware of how it works:

a. How to construct a search - beyond the absolute basics.
b. The significance of what is indexed vs what is not
c. How content indexing works and what may or may not be indexed (ifilters e.g.)
d. Why file explorer search can be so achingly slow (green progress bar) - for fast search results everything below the starting point in the file hierarchy must be indexed.

And if you are aware of how to construct more complex searches e.g.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...s-aqsreference
- just how detailed your search specification can be.

Which is great for command-line oriented geeks of course

That said, I use a fast free search 3rd party tool routinely- Locate32.
Most of these add on content search on a non-indexed basis - i.e. text-based files found by basic parameters can be searched. The file types searchable vary from program to program.

Then there's e.g. Docfetcher (free) - content indexing.

But this thread shouldn't morph into a comparison of search tools. That's been done recently in other threads.

Have you tried the troubleshooter FWIW. Settings - Update & security - Troubleshoot - Additional troubleshooters then Search and Indexing?

Has Microsoft really not been able to update and fix this bug? It really slows down progress.
I know you suggested some alternatives but is there really nothing that can be done? If there is something to atleast alleviate or half fix this, I'd like clear simple directions please.

You're in MS's hands, unless you have some specific problem, for which specific evidence would be needed, enough for someone to try to do the same thing on their 1909 Windows.

Have you done your research? As I told you, after the intial early outcry and news articles, MS did make changes; reports on 20H1 (Insider) indicated it seemed to be working stisfactorily.

The worst thing it does is, when I want to open a file in a program (i.e Sony Vegas 17) and the search option doesn't work at all!

Presumably in the Open/save box?


For interest: (and note carefully, the bug changes with 1909 build number)
Can't perform advanced search in Windows 1909 file Explorer Windows explorer search 1909 boken, freezes, crashes not responding.