Problems searching for Desktop Apps (.exe) with Cortana

SuperKael · 31 Jan 2017

Cortana seems to be highly hesitant to search for .exe files. Some files don't appear at all, even though I have manually added them to the search index. Other files appear, but then after a second or two disappear from the results and get replaced with a recommendation to do a web search for it... It's worth note that, with the files that appear for a second, if I click them before they disappear they do in fact open the relevant program.

dalchina · 31 Jan 2017

You're right about exe files- last this was raised some months ago it doesn't.

Cortana only searches files and folders that have been indexed by Windows search (Control panel, Indexing Options), and not exe files as I recall.

If you want proper tools, try
a. Classic Shell (free start menu, highly configurable with good customisable search box)
b. One of
Ultrasearch
Locate32
Everything

- free instant find-as-you-type over all disks and partitions (or whatever range you specify down to a folder) with GUI support for size, date etc. Ultrasearch and Locate32 also support searching within text files found (but don't index text files unlike Windows search).

I'm not familiar with your other observation, and assume by manually adding?? how? them to the index, you mean you've included the containing folder in indexed locations.

SuperKael · 01 Feb 2017

Yes, I have tried adding the folders directly containing the files I want to access to the index options, to no avail. I don't want to use another program, I like Cortana other than this issue. In addition, Cortana DOES bring up the files, but they disappear from the list of options after a moment. It also used to work all the time, but after I was forced to reinstall windows a while ago, it no longer works properly anymore.

dalchina · 02 Feb 2017

I wish you luck with that.