How to fix search option for onedrive folder linked to my PC

Question

I am unable to find the files/folders using the search option from a onedrive folder from my PC. It used to work before and it is currently working from my phone. But whenever I search from the PC for specific file names, nothing comes up.

Answer 1

Hello @Riyashad Chowdhury

Welcome to Q&A forum!

This issue usually occurs when OneDrive search indexing on your PC is broken or paused. Since it works on your phone, the files are synced, but your PC isn’t searching properly.

Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try to double check at your end:

1/ Check OneDrive Sync Status

• Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.
• If you see a green check mark, the file is available on this device.
• If you see a cloud icon, the file is available online only.

To sync files locally:

• Right-click the OneDrive icon and select Always keep on this device.
• Once synced, the file will show a green check mark.

For your reference: What do the OneDrive icons mean? - Microsoft Support

If you're seeing the sync pending icon in File Explorer, read OneDrive is stuck on "Sync pending".

2/ Try Searching in File Explorer

• Open your OneDrive folder in File Explorer.
• Use the search bar there to search for your files.

Finally, if these steps don’t work, you can also reset OneDrive:

Reset OneDrive - Microsoft Support

• Run: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
• Then restart OneDrive.

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, please let me know with a few more details or a screenshot (without personal information), so I can assist you further.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

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Answer 2

If you're having trouble finding files or folders in your OneDrive folder using the search option on your PC, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check for Hidden or Temporary Files: Sometimes, hidden or temporary files can interfere with search functionality. You can show hidden files in File Explorer and remove any that are not needed.
   • To show hidden files, open File Explorer, go to the View tab, and check the Hidden items box.
   • Remove any unnecessary hidden files.
2. Rebuild the Windows Search Index: An incorrect cached status in the Windows Search index can cause issues. You can rebuild the index by following these steps:
   • Select Start, enter Indexing, and then select Indexing Options.
   • Click on Advanced and then select Rebuild. Note that this process may take some time and runs faster if the computer isn't in use.
3. Check Windows Search Service: Ensure that the Windows Search service is running properly. You can do this by:
   • Selecting Start, entering Services, and opening the Services application.
   • Finding Windows Search, double-clicking it, and ensuring that the Startup type is set to Automatic (Delayed Start) and that the service is running.
4. Update Windows: Make sure your Windows is up to date, as updates can resolve many issues related to system functionality. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the search issues in your OneDrive folder linked to your PC.

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References:

• The OneDrive sync status icon incorrectly shows "syncing" in File Explorer
• Fix problems in Windows Search