Is there a specific way to set up windows search?

I've always found native Windows search sadly lacking, often unreliable and occasionally inaccurate.

Better options (3rd party software) : Everything and/or Agent Ransack and/or UltraSearch (all free)

It's unfortunate that almost every question about Windows search gets sidetracked into yet another discussion about third party tools rather than actually attempting to address the question asked. (And yes, I use a 3rd party tool myself as well as Windows search).

Let's try to address the original question.

Files plainly visible to me on the desktop are not returned in the search as are many many other files I know contain the search term. Search is simply not functional.

Could you please post a screenshot of your Indexing Options thus:



Please try a simple test.

Keep Indexing Options open. Note the number of items indexed.

Then create a new text file on your desktop with a unique name, say abc123.txt

Does the number increment?

If it does, can you also find that file using Windows search?
If not, post a screenshot to show what you’re doing.
Thanks.

It's generally not necessary to index to entire .... drive. The index file will get too large. I've found the locations that search indexes by default to generally be sufficient.

Considering this, one weakness of Windows search is that the only way to get instant results (rather than the slow green progress bar) is that searching using file explorer's search field requires that the whole drive being searched is indexed. I don't know of a way to limit that search to selectively indexed locations only.

Discussions about 3rd party tools don't answer questions about how to set up and use Windows search. Have you answered the OP's actual question or not?

dalchina said:

It's unfortunate that almost every question about Windows search gets sidetracked into yet another discussion about third party tools rather than actually attempting to address the question asked.

Simply because a flawed, unreliable facility is not worth the time and effort, especially when there are much more superior alternatives readily, easily and freely available.


The fact that the subject arises so often and frequently might suggest that alternatives are justified.

@silverz - feel free to send me a private message if you wish to follow your issue up. Thanks.


As it seems there is little interest in addressing the question asked, I'm out. Subscription to thread terminated.

It is pointless having endlessly repeated discussions about 3rd party tools when the question is about Windows. That's been done so many times.

Windows search sadly demands understanding, and its default settings are less than ideal, so people tend to turn to fully indexing tools.