Windows 7 search string in files

If this box is already checked, file contents searching for Windows is currently enabled. You may first have to click the Search tab at the top of the window. Click Apply , then click OK. Both options are at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your settings and close the window; from this point on, Windows will search both for titles and for file contents.

Method 3. Type in change how windows searches. You'll do this in the search bar at the bottom of the Start window. Click Change how Windows searches. It should be near the top of the Start window.

Doing so opens the Indexing Options window. Click Advanced. This option is at the bottom of the window. A pop-up window will open. Click the File Types tab. You'll find this option near the top of the window. Select your preferred file type. Scroll through the list of file types near the top of the window until you find the one that you want to use, then click the file type's name to select it.

Check the "Index Properties and File Contents" box. This option is below the "How should this file be indexed? Click OK. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your changes and close the window. You should now be able to search for your selected file type both by title and by contents. Change your keywords. Windows search isn't like Google. If you are searching, let's say, "password" and no results come up, try "passcode. Not Helpful 29 Helpful This is not working on Windows 7; maybe my Trend Micro software is blocking it.

What could I do? Windows search is often not working well, you can try other tools, such as docfetcher, anytxt, dtsearch, etc. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

After updating your indexing options, you may have to wait some time before your results will appear as expected, as Windows must rebuild its index with the contents of the new files. Restarting your computer may help expedite the process. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. You may also add additional folders to the list of indexed locations from the Indexing Options window. Enable file contents-searching may dramatically slow down your computer. This is because your computer must now search within each file as opposed to scanning only the files' titles.

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Details required :. Cancel Submit. The Larch. You could turn indexing off entirely -- that way, content searching is actually more versatile.