Search not finding files in best match from the Start Menu

damole · 30 Sep 2016

Every time I open the start menu and type a few characters of a file I'm looking for Windows doesn't find it. For example if I type 'art' Windows shows me the Paint app whereas I am looking for a file in my documents that contains the word 'Art', now if I click the find results in documents icon it will show me the file. Why does it not search in the all the folders that are selected in Control Panel->Indexing Options?

Is there anything I can do to disable best match?

dalchina · 01 Oct 2016

Hi Cortana search is a mix of settings, internet, apps, files and folders.
As such you have to tell it the subset you are interested in. When it works, it's fast and convenient.

Have you noticed its search of files and folders is limited to only what's indexed?

Do search the so much better way- use one of these free find-as-you-type programs: across all your disks. Much faster 1 time inexing than Windows search, and far more flexibility (date, size, extension, location...) in specifying what you want to find.

Everything by Void Tools (v1.4b or better)
Ultrasearch
Locate32 (older, but the one I prefer).

damole · 01 Oct 2016

Cortana is turned off. Yes but why can't I choose the default subset. Best Match is just not best for me. I'd rather it just searched apps and documents which is what I think Windows 8 used to do.

dalchina · 02 Oct 2016

if you want something that works as you wish, use Classic Shell (free) - a start menu that properly reflects a structured start menu, highly configurable, like XP expanding across the screen or like Win 7..

Here are its search options:

Search not finding files in best match from the Start Menu-snap-2016-10-02-08.09.42.jpg

Otherwise please feel free to give feedback to MS

damole · 02 Oct 2016

I used to use ClassicShell with Windows 8/8.1 but thought I wouldn't need it now. Just installed it and it's doing the job. Thanks!

dalchina · 03 Oct 2016

Good choice!