This wikiHow teaches you how to search for files by their content, and not just by title on a Windows computer. You can easily search through the search bar of the folder (for one search), or enable content search for all subsequent searches.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using the Search Bar on Folders
Step 1. Open the folder you want to browse
To find the contents of a file in a specific folder, you need to open the folder in question.
For example, if you want to search for files in the " Documents " folder, open the “ Documents ”.
Step 2. Click the search bar
It's in the upper-right corner of the folder window.
Step 3. Enter the "content search" command
Type content: into the search bar. Anything you type after that command will be considered a content search keyword.
Step 4. Enter the content search keywords
Right after the " content: " command, type in the word or phrase you want to use to locate the contents of the files in the selected folder.
For example, if you're looking for a file that contains the phrase " an elephant never forgets " in the main body of the text, type content:an elephant never forgets into the search bar
Step 5. Review the search results
Each file in the search results is indexed by its content. This means that you can see the file you want at the top of the window as long as you enter the correct word or phrase.
You can narrow your search results by typing a phrase that's longer or more specific than the file you're looking for
Method 2 of 3: Enabling Content Search for All Files
Step 1. Open the “Start” menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen. The “Start” menu will open after that.
Step 2. Type change search options for files and folders into the “Start” menu
The search bar is at the bottom of the "Start" window. After that, the computer will look for options that you need to change in order to be able to search files by content.
Step 3. Click Change search options for files and folders
It's at the top of the "Start" window.
You may see the option “ Files and folders " If so, click on the option.
Step 4. Check the box "Always search file names and contents"
This box is in the "When searching non-indexed locations" section of the window.
- If the box is checked, file search by content is enabled on the computer.
- You may need to click on the tab “ Search ” above the window first.
Step 5. Click Apply and select OK.
Both buttons are at the bottom of the window. The settings will be saved and the window will close. From this point on, Windows will search for files by title and content.
Method 3 of 3: Enabling Content Search for Specific Files
Step 1. Open the “Start” menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Type change how windows searches
Enter the entry in the search bar under the “Start” window.
Step 3. Click Change how Windows searches
It's at the top of the "Start" window. After that, the “Indexing Options” window will load.
Step 4. Click Advanced
This option is at the bottom of the window. After that, a pop-up window will be displayed.
Step 5. Click the File Types tab
It's a tab at the top of the window.
Step 6. Select the desired file type
Browse the list of file types at the top of the window until you find the option you want to use, then click the file type name to select it.
Step 7. Check the "Index Properties and File Contents" box
This box is below the " How should this file be indexed? " heading, at the bottom of the window.
Step 8. Click OK
It's at the bottom of the window. The changes will be saved and the window will close. You can now search for the selected file type by title and content.
Tips
- After updating the index options, you may need to wait for the search results to appear the way you want because Windows will need to re-complement its index with the contents of the new files. To speed up the process, restart the computer.
- You can also add additional folders to the indexed directory list in the “Indexing Options” window.
