Can't find that file? These Windows Search tips can help

Use indexing, File Explorer, and even Photos to beef up Windows’ search capabilities.

- MARK HACHMAN

Let's face it: Searching your PC for files within Windows has always been mildly confusing, especially with several options for searching right in Windows 10 and 11. But if you're convinced a particular file is hidden somewhere on your PC, try these tips to find it and get back to work.

We can't guarantee that finding a file will be as easy as using a search engine like Google. (Incidentally, Google once made a desktop search engine for your PC, but it has since been discontinued.) But realizing what Windows is searching for, when it's doing it, and how to interpret results should make life much easier.

Finally, it's important to realize that there are essentially two search mechanisms built into your PC: the built-in Windows Search, and File Explorer. The first is best for commonly used files, while File Explorer’s search function is a powerful tool that can be used to root out more deeply hidden files. Both Windows Search and File Explorer are integrated with Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage, but File Explorer does a better job of letting you know which files are where.

ALL SEARCH BOXES ARE NOT THE SAME

Before you begin, there are two things you need to know: where to search, and what to search. Windows Search appears as the magnifying glass icon on your Windows 11 taskbar, and as the search box on your Taskbar in Windows 10. In Windows 11, there’s a search box at the top of the Windows 11 Start menu, which magically reconfigures the Start menu into the Search menu when you click on it. Windows File Explorer also has a search box at the top of its search window.