What Is Windows Search Windows 10

Finding a specific app, file, or setting buried in the depths of Windows 10 or 11 tin exist challenging. If you're having trouble tracking down specific items across the Showtime menu, File Explorer, and Windows Settings carte, Windows offers a powerful and flexible search tool that can aid you notice exactly what you want, no affair where it is.

With the Windows search tool, you can conduct narrow searches to find specific items such as apps from the First menu, music from File Explorer, and preferences from the Settings carte du jour. You can run web searches directly from the search box without first having to open your browser. The tool even gives you easy admission to the apps and files y'all use most ofttimes.

Windows Search is also integrated into the search role in File Explorer. That means you can type or select a keyword in the search field, and File Explorer suggests files based on your search term. At present, allow'southward check out how to use the search tool in both Windows x and 11.

Starting Your Search

In Windows 10, click the search box at the bottom left of your screen. In Windows 11, click the Search icon. By default, the search window shows the top apps you apply, as well every bit files and apps included in recent searches and quick searches. Click an app or search to open up or run it.

Type a Search

Acquit a search right off the bat by typing the item you lot need into the search box. In Windows 10, type the name of the item directly in the search box. In Windows 11, the cursor automatically jumps into the search box when you click the search icon, so you can immediately start typing.

By default, Windows searches beyond several categories to evangelize results. Yous can open an detail from hither or narrow the search results further.

Search by Categories

The search card consists of several categories, including Apps, Documents, Email, and Web. Click the More drop-downwards card to admission fifty-fifty more categories, including Folders, Music, People, Photos, Settings, and Video. Click a category to filter the results.

You lot tin then check out the other categories. If y'all're searching for a specific software program, click Apps to narrow the search field. Looking for a document related to your search term? Select the heading for Documents. If you're seeking an electronic mail continued with your search term, select the heading for Electronic mail.

You tin fifty-fifty search for a website or specific web page under the Spider web tab. The search window shows you lot direct results in the right pane and related searches in the left pane. Click ane of the searches and y'all're directed to a Bing page.

Type a Category

You lot can expedite your search by typing the category directly into the search box, and Windows will show you results from the correct category. To do this, type the category followed by a colon and and then your search term, such equally apps: Spotify or documents: iPhone.

Maybe y'all call back the Windows 10 search box takes upward a lot of room on the taskbar, infinite you could devote to other apps and icons. Compress information technology downwards to an icon past right-clicking any empty space on the taskbar and selecting Search > Show search icon.

Search in File Explorer

Now, let's check out the search functionality in File Explorer. Open up File Explorer and navigate to the folder y'all want to search within. Click in the search field. Yous should run into a list of items from previous searches. Type a character or ii, and items from previous searches that lucifer your criteria volition appear. Press Enter to see all the search results in the window. Click the right search result to open up the corresponding certificate or other file.

Change Search Settings

Command your searches to make sure they evangelize the results you need. Open the search box in Windows 10 or 11 and click the ellipsis icon in the top-correct corner. Select Search settings from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, go to Settings > Search. The Search settings screen is the same in both Windows 10 and 11.

You lot can start by customizing the search results to include or exclude adult content, choosing from strict, moderate, or no filtering. Under Cloud content search, control the ability to find content from whatsoever cloud-based services yous apply, including Outlook and OneDrive. If you utilize both a Microsoft account and a work or school account, you can enable or disable either business relationship in your search results by turning the switch on or off.

Control Search History

Microsoft collects certain information related to your searches to deliver the most accurate results, only y'all can foreclose Windows from collecting and saving your search history. Past tweaking the settings here, you're able to protect your privacy but still allow Windows to gather the necessary data to run searches.

Control Search Privacy

Plow off the switch for Search history on this device if yous don't want your searches to be stored on the estimator. Click the button for Clear device search history to remove whatever history of your searches already saved on this PC.

To view a history of searches saved in the cloud, click the link for Privacy dashboard. Sign into the dashboard and then click the setting for Search history. Click the Show more link to see additional searches. Click the trash can icon for any searches you lot wish to delete. Click the link for Clear all search history to delete all searches. Click the push for Download your data to review a file of your search history.

Exclude Files and Folders

Yous can view and control which folders are included in a search. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Search. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows.

Under the Find My Files section, you tin opt for a archetype search, which looks for items just in your libraries and desktop. Choose the Enhanced option to widen the search to your entire computer. This search mode may find more items just will take longer to index. In the Excluded Folders section, add or remove folders you don't desire included in your searches.

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