In Windows11 how can I search for files?

Question

I have just installed Windows11 on my PC but cannot search files.

The answer I get is: "No items match your search".

Answer 1

Hello,

Try opening settings goto Privacy and security settings.

Choose Searching Windows

Run the Indexer Troubleshooter, See if that resolves your issue.

If not goto the advanced indexing Options, choose Advanced button on that dialog bos

then choose Delete and rebuild the index;

This may take awhile to rebuild.

Answer 2

Hello Enny Wunatall,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

Below are some other troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check if Indexing Is Complete  

When you first install Windows 11, the search index might still be building itself. If you haven’t waited long enough for the index to complete, search results may be limited. To check, open the Control Panel and search for “Indexing Options.” If you see a message indicating that indexing is in progress, give it a little more time.

2. Verify Indexing Options  

Open the “Indexing Options” panel (you can search for it in the Start menu).  

Click “Modify” to see which folders are being indexed.

Make sure that the locations you expect to search (like Documents, Desktop, etc.) are checked. I

If necessary, add or remove folders to improve the search scope.

3. Ensure the Windows Search Service Is Running  

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.  

Locate “Windows Search” in the list, double-click it, and ensure that the Startup type is set to “Automatic” and that the service is running.  

If not, click Start to launch it.

4. Use the Correct Syntax in File Explorer  

Sometimes, search might fail if unintended filters or syntax errors are used. Try a simple search (e.g., a few letters that you know appear in your file names) to see if you get results.

5. Windows Updates and System File Check  

Make sure that your Windows 11 installation is fully updated.  

You can also run a System File Checker (SFC) scan to ensure that no system files are corrupted.

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:    

sfc /scannow  

Wait for the scan to complete and follow any on-screen instructions.

6. After making changes, it’s beneficial to restart your PC to see if the issue resolves.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Daisy Zhou

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Answer 3

Hello,

See if this fix helps you:

https://www.kapilarya.com/fix-windows-11-search-not-working

Let us know if this helps!

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog by a trusted Microsoft MVP.