How to get Windows Search to find file contents by default?

Hello Randy,

In line with your concern, please make sure that your computer is already completed the process of indexing your files and check if the Always search file name and contents feature is enabled. To do this, refer to the steps below:

1. Click on Start, search for File Explorer Options and click on it.
2. Go to Search tab, then check the box for Always search file name and contents.
3. Click on Apply and click OK to save changes.

If the issue still occurs, I'd suggest to run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter. You can access this by going to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Search and Indexing.

Looking forward to your response.

Regards.

Hi, Melchizedek!

1. Indexing Options: Indexing Complete
2. Indexing Options/Advanced/File Types: docx is set to Index Properties and File Contents (I believe that must be the default. Don't recall changing this.)
3. File Explorer Options/Search: Always search file names and contents .... (On)
4. Troubleshooting/Search and Indexing: Troubleshotting couldn't identify the problem. (In user or administrator mode)

I did try a test Search using File Explorer instead of Windows Search.

That worked fine. It located my file with a search of 'tiger'. 

Windows Search is my concern. 

Hope that helps!

Thank you for getting back to me. Using the All filter searches through the most relevant items on your computer, this also includes items on the web, and cloud services. In theory, it's possible that it wouldn't show all of the results when using the All filter as it will focus on the title and not the content of the files. The search is too broad since it would also search through the web. The option to narrow down the search on your computer would be through the search filters using a certain category.

With the help of the Documents filter, it narrows down your search criteria specifically on your local files.

If you think that there should be an improvement on Windows 10 search, I'd recommend posting your suggestion through the Feedback Hub. You can either vote on an existing submission or submit a new issue. When you submit a feedback item we gather additional details and information about your issue that will help determine what’s causing it and address it. Feedback items regularly receive Microsoft responses on the submissions in the Feedback app so you can see what we are doing about your feedback. Please revisit frequently to see the status of your feedback items.

In order to submit new feedback, please follow these steps:

1. On a Windows 10 device, search for Feedback Hub in Cortana search, then launch the app.
2. Navigate to Feedback in the left menu, then press + Add new feedback.
3. Select the Problem, and share any details you think are relevant, and choose an appropriate category and subcategory.
4. Important: If possible, reproduce the problem(s) after clicking Begin monitoring (or Start capture) near the end of the form; Stop monitoring when you’re done.
5. Once you’ve completed the form and monitoring, click Submit.
6. Click Continue using Feedback Hub.
7. Click My feedback at the top, then find the item you submitted (it may take a while to appear).
8. Open the item you submitted, then click Share.
9. Click Copy link, then paste the link here in your response (it will look like https://aka.ms/ link>).

Let me know if you have other concerns.

Regards.

Hi, Melchizedek!

Yes, it sounds like you followed the steps in my original post and were able to recreate the problem.

To me it looks like there is something amiss in the 'Filters' that Windows Search is using. I say that because:

1. File Explorer works just fine. And I suspect both interfaces use the same underlying search technology.
2. A new search isn't required in Windows Search. Just an adjustment of the Filters.

My suspicion would be that the 'All' Filter is somehow getting confused when the result is discovered in the content instead of the name.

What now?

Thank you for letting me know. I've recreated the issue above and it seems that you need to use documents: giraffe for you to be able to locate the document that contains the word "Giraffe". Kindly refer to the screenshot below:

Hope to hear from you soon.

Regards.