Windows Search - how to see full file name and path?

Hi Dustin,

I am Dave, I will help you with this.

Perform a search, then on the top menu, click View and set that to Details, you will then be able to expand the Name volume.

To see the Paths, right click any column header and choose the option to add a new column and add the Paths column.

Awesome! Thank you.

How do I make this the default when I search? I don't want to have to change the view and add the path every time.

Hi Dustin,

Sorry, I was offline.

Set up the search view as explained above, then in File Explorer, click the 3 dots and select Options.

Select the View tab of the resulting dialog, click the 'Apply to Folders' button, that should store that view you created for further searches.

Thanks! The "Apply to Folders" button is greyed out but I found the solution.

I was able to get the system to remember the setting by clicking on the Files and Folders icon under Advanced Settings, this didn't change anything in the View tab BUT it made the bottom "Apply" button selectable. So I clicked Apply just to see what would happen and now every time I search I get the view that I want.

I have to do this for every hard drive through, internal and external, there doesn't appear to be a way to make this the default for all searches forever. This means all new hard drives you get will also require you to do this.

I have to do this for every hard drive through, internal and external, there doesn't appear to be a way to make this the default for all searches forever. This means all new hard drives you get will also require you to do this.

You can set up your preferred File Explorer view defaults, including search results, using WinSetView. It will set global defaults. No need to go repeating those steps over and over.