Does anybody know how Windows 10 search actually works?

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Does anybody know how Windows 10 search actually works? On my old Windows 7 machine, entering a text string into the search box at the lower left side of the screen resulted in a list of documents, messages, and files that contained this text string, along with a link for more results. The index was updated almost immediately for any changes and it worked like a charm. I can’t get Windows 10 search to do anything. For a while, Windows 10 search would give me file names that matched my search string, but not file contents. Then I started to investigate “Search Locations” and other search functions. Now Windows 10 Search doesn’t even give file names any more even though the file is still there on the disk. I must have changed some search setting but it’s hard to know what it was. My PC is new so there’s not much on it so far, so search should be very fast, but so far, it doesn’t seem to do anything. Any suggestions or advice appreciated.

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I’ve found that using search function found in “This PC” will give you the results you are looking for. Typing the search sting and then hitting the enter button will display the full list.

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oldpaul100

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[Alex5723]

For search use the free portable results in 1 sec. Everything

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Alex5723.

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Well, search started working.  I’m not sure why although I did go to Search settings and removed C:\ from excluded folders, so that maybe that did it.  Anyway, it seems to be working now.  Thanks for the comments.

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“Does anybody know how Windows 10 search actually works?”

Yes.

It works by choosing the most inconsistent, least accurate and most frustrating possible results.. or lack of results.  One day typing “control panel” will result in the control panel showing as a result after “cont” and the next day it will have no results until you type the entire word “control panel” showing just after you type the last “l”.. then other days it will have no results whatsoever.

Just like everything else in Windows 10, it seems deliberately designed to be the least efficient most user hostile and frustrating way to implement itself possible.

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