In Windows11 how can I search for files?

Enny Wunatall 0 Reputation points
2025-03-13T20:33:09.3566667+00:00

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

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

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | User experience | Other
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  1. Darrell Gorter 2,731 Reputation points
    2025-03-13T21:48:00.76+00:00

    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.

    User's image

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-03-26T08:15:40.38+00:00

    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.

    1. 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

    ============================================

    If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

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  3. Kapil Arya 8,546 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-03-27T15:43:38.7033333+00:00

    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.

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