File explorer "Search options"

Question

Is there a way to make the "Search options" a static display in the ribbon ?

(Windows 11 Pro, Version 25H2, OS build 26200.8737, Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.334.0

Answer 1

Hi Daniel Hitson,

In current versions of Windows 11, the Search options command is designed to appear only when you actively use the File Explorer search box. There is currently no built-in setting to keep it permanently visible on the command bar.

As a workaround, you can use Advanced Query Syntax (AQS) directly in the search box, which provides many of the same filtering capabilities without needing to open the Search options menu:

• kind:=document – search by file type
• date:=this month – filter by date
• size:>10MB – filter by file size

These filters can be combined to narrow results more quickly. I hope this helps clarify the current behavior.

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

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Answer 2

Hi Daniel,

Currently in Windows 11 it is not possible to make the 'Search Options' setting a permanent fixture on the top menu in File Explorer, in Windows 11 they changed the top menu to be context sensitive to make the top menu less cluttered, so that setting will only appear when you start a search in File Explorer, they are currently working to make the Windows File Explorer and Search functions more responsive and functional in Windows 11, so that may become an option in a futures update, but for not, it is not possible.