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FIX: No items match your search in Windows 10/11 File Explorer
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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The File Explorer search tool should find the vast majority of files and folders searched for providing that you enter clear and specific keywords. Yet, File Explorer’s search results might still state “no items match your search” for some users even when they are entering specific keywords for files and folders that are saved on HDDs.
IfExplorer isn’t finding files and foldersthat you’re sure are saved on HDD, you might need to fix its search tool. This is how you can fix theFile Explorersearch tool when it isn’t working in Windows 10.
How to Fix File Explorer’s Search Tool
1. Open the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter
2. Restart Cortana
3. Check Your Indexed Locations
4. Rebuild the Search Index
File search errors are often due to corrupted search index. As such,rebuilding the indexis one of the best resolutions for fixing the File Explorer and Cortana search tools. You can rebuild the search index as follows.
5. Check the Windows Search Service is Enabled
The Windows Search service provides content indexing. So you might need to switch that service on, if it’s disabled, to fix the File Explorer search tool. You can check the Windows Search service status as follows.
6. Select the Always Search File Names and Contents Option
File Explorer’sAlways search file names and contentsoption is not one selected by default. However, selecting that option will ensure that the File Explorer search utility will always search file names and contents when searching non-indexed locations. You can select that option in Windows 10 as follows.
7. Select the Allow Indexing Service Option
If the File Explorer search tool doesn’t find any files or folders on aUSB drive, you might need to select theAllow files on this driveto have contents indexedoption for the USB storage device. That option should already be selected for the C: drive. This is how you can select the Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed option.
Apart from these options, we recommend usingprofessional third-party softwarewith built-in character recognition technology that can help you find the data you’re searching for within seconds.
This type of tool creates an initial index of your hard disk and gives an easy-to-use search interface that returns results immediately after you enter your term.
The results are organized by file type, and they contain image thumbnails for image matches as well as highlighted keywords in the document preview.
Those are a few of the resolutions that might fix File Explorer’s search tool so that it doesn’t return “no items match your search” in its search results for saved files. Remember that there are numerous third-partysearch tool softwarethat you can also utilize for searches, and some of those utilities might be better than File Explorer’s search box.
More about the topics:File Explorer,windows 10 fix
Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it.
He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes.
In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.
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Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
He is passionate about everything surrounding Microsoft’s OS, focusing on troubleshooting guides & tips for everyday problems.
