Windows 10 offers you many ways to search for files on your PC. One way is using the Search Box in File Explorer to search only in the current folder, or search in the current folder and all of its subfolders. You can perform an advanced search using criteria (parameters) to search by date modified, file kind, file size, file type, file name, folder path, tags, and more.

If you regularly search for certain files and/or use specific search criteria, then saving searches will make it easier to perform these searches on demand without having to retype the search and set the criteria each time.

Saved searches are saved as a Search Folder which is generated by an XML file that stores the query in a form that can be used by Windows Search.

When you open a saved search, it will perform the search using your criteria and display up-to-date results.

This tutorial will show you how to save search criteria you use often as a Saved Search to make it easier and faster to perform on demand in Windows 10.


For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:

Save Search Query in Windows 11



EXAMPLE: Saved search
Save a Search in Windows 10-save_search-3.png



Here's How:

1 Perform a search in the Search Box of File Explorer using the search criteria you want.

2 In the Search tab, click/tap on Save search in the ribbon. (see screenshot below)

Save a Search in Windows 10-save_search-1.png

3 Navigate to where you want to save the search at, and: (see screenshot below)

Searches are saved to your Searches folder (%UserProfile%\Searches) by default, but you can save them anywhere you like.

A) Type a file name you want for the saved search.

B) Change or add author(s) for the Authors details property.

C) Add one or more tags for the Tags details property.

D) Click/tap on the Save button.

Save a Search in Windows 10-save_search-2.png

4 You can now open this saved search ("My .txt search") as needed to quickly perform a search using its saved criteria with up-to-date results.


That's it,
Shawn Brink