File Explorer: Searching and Filtering

Introduction

File Explorer's advanced search function is a powerful and efficient tool designed to help users quickly and accurately locate files and folders within their computer's storage system. At its core, the advanced search function allows users to search for files and folders based on various attributes such as file name, file type, size, date modified, date created, and more. The interface presents users with a search bar where they can input keywords, phrases, or file extensions related to their desired item.

Basic Search

The interface presents users with a search bar where they can input keywords, phrases, or file extensions related to their desired item.

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The search function will query within the currently open directory. For example, the “Desktop” directory is selected in the picture above, so the search peruses anything contained in the Desktop directory. It will try to match the entered keyword(s) to File/Folder titles and contents.

Advanced Search

In addition to searching by keyword, File Explorer also supports more specific search options. By entering a parameter in the search bar and specifying a value for it, you can query based on any of the details Windows tracks on your files. You can enter a parameter and a value using the following format:

• parameter:value

You can actually use more than one parameter in a search, too! Simply add a space between parameters to use both simultaneously. You can use as many valid parameters as you want; we’ve provided a list of the commonly used ones below.

For example, say you want to find all Microsoft Excel files that you’ve worked on in the past month.

• You’d specify “type:excel” to only find Excel files

• You’d specify “datemodified:this month” to only find files worked on in the past month

Below is a demonstration of this search in action. As you can see, the search returned Excel documents modified within the previous month. Search will automatically use the current day when you utilize time searches.

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Common Parameters for Advanced Search

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