How can I get Windows 11 to search media file tags on a NAS drive?

Question

1. I have a TerraMaster NAS F4-223. (NAS = Network Attached Storage)
2. I've established a mapped network drive (Z:).
3. I have ~3 TB of media files on this NAS, and that have Tags on them (Right-Click -> Properties -> Details -> Tags).

Before I moved the files over to the NAS, I was able to use the basic Windows File Explorer to search on the Tags, and now when I search, it only does a basic search of the filenames and seems not to look at the Tags at all.

Is it possible to get Windows 11 to search media file Tags over a Network drive?

If it is not possible (as other posts seem to suggest at least with regards to previous version of Windows) why in 2024 is it not possible? Ugh.

***moved from Windows / Windows 11 / Files, folders, and storage***

Answer 1

Hi friends,

Thank you for reaching out to the forum support team.

I understand your frustration with Windows 11 not searching media file tags on your NAS drive. While this functionality seems to be limited, there are a few workarounds and solutions you can try to enable tag searching on a mapped network drive.

Enable Windows Search Service on the NAS

1. Check if your NAS supports indexing:

• Some NAS devices have their own indexing services that can be enabled. Check the TerraMaster documentation or support for information on enabling media indexing.
• If your NAS supports indexing, enable this feature to improve search capabilities.

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2. Ensure the NAS is indexed on your PC:

• Although Windows might not index network drives by default, you can try to add the NAS to the Windows indexing options.
• Go to "Control Panel" > "Indexing Options" > "Modify."
• Check if the mapped network drive (Z:) is listed and try to add it. Note that this may not always work due to Windows limitations.

Third-Party Solutions

3. Use a third-party search tool:
   • Third-party tools like "Everything" by Voidtools, "FileLocator Pro," or "Copernic Desktop Search" can index and search network drives more effectively than Windows File Explorer.
   • Download and install one of these tools and configure it to index your NAS drive. These tools often provide more advanced search features, including searching file tags.

Network Search Alternatives

4. Set up a media server:
   • Consider setting up a media server on your NAS, such as Plex or Emby. These servers can index your media files and allow for advanced search capabilities, including tags.
   • Access your media server through its web interface or dedicated apps to search for media files by tags.

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Technical Workaround

5. Use Windows PowerShell or Command Line:
   • You can use Windows PowerShell or the command line to perform more advanced searches on your NAS drive.
   • Example PowerShell script to search for tags: powershell

     Get-ChildItem -Path "Z:\path\to\your\media\files" -Recurse | Where-Object { $_.Attributes -match "Archive" -and $_.Name -like "*tag*" } 
     

If after trying these suggestions the issue persists or if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us for additional assistance.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Best regards,

Rosy