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I've had some issues with the new search function in Windows 7. The Search in Windows XP was packed with so many more options. The only option I can access now are Date Modified and Size.

Any pointers to how to get more options in the Windows 7 Search, or links to external programs that can make my life easier?

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8 Answers 8

Reset to default
111

From the Windows Search Advanced Query Syntax page, use the following search items:

To restrict by file type    Use            Example
------------------------    ---            -------
Folders                     folders        kind:folders
Folder name                 foldername     foldername:mydocs
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  • 2
    Now I see, maybe the Windows 7 search is a bit better suited for search than the Windows XP version =)
    – sshow
    Mar 5, 2010 at 14:11
  • @sshow - you should say thanks to snark by up voting the answer. +1 from me
    – Nicu Zecheru
    Mar 5, 2010 at 14:56
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    foldername is not correct. It searches for files and folders inside of folders of a certain name.
    – Zombo
    Nov 23, 2014 at 21:26
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    kind:folders (or kind:folder) finds folders, but also collection files like *.CAB and *.ZIP.  To find only true folders, use type:folder.
    – G-Man Says 'Reinstate Monica'
    Nov 17, 2015 at 2:10
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    BTW this works only for the English versions of Windows, for other languages you need to use the translated key word (whatever it may be), yeah, it sucks.
    – Ivan Castellanos
    Oct 21, 2016 at 1:18
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In the Search box type:

type:="File Folder" name:[enter the folder name here with no brackets]
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  • this is the best answer. you can also put , e.g. name:*middle
    – adudley
    Feb 25, 2016 at 10:21
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    type:"File Folder" (without the equals sign) works as well.
    – Dennis T --Reinstate Monica--
    Aug 5, 2018 at 20:18
  • How can I find only empty folders ? And/Or folders whose size is less than 100 or 10 KB ?
    – Vicky Dev
    Jan 26, 2022 at 7:54
  • type:="file folder" (lower case f) works as well
    – tdwong.star
    Nov 28, 2022 at 5:42
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I understand that you are asking specifically for windows-search based answers, but here is an alternate method in case it is helpful.

Open up the windows command prompt and navigate to the directory from which you want to start searching and use the following command:

dir *SEARCH_TERM* /ad /s

Windows Search just makes me howl with rage for a few minutes before I give up and just do the same search from the command prompt instead.

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  • 3
    Very fast and good solution. :) But I prefer to add /b for single line output. ;)
    – CSchulz
    Aug 16, 2013 at 15:19
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On a german version of Windows 7 you'll need the filter below, because type:folder or the like won't work at all:

typ:=Dateiordner

BTW, if you press Win+F, the searchbox will offer at least a tiny bit of assistance below the box and clicking on its blue links will trigger selection widgets.

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Tired of Windows 7 search wonders I use FileSeek http://www.fileseek.ca It has lots of options: date/size filters, regular expressions, inclusive/exclusive search, etc.

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In cmd.exe CLI, go to the folder you want to search from, then dir /ad /b /s "search-string"

Please note that it must be cmd.exe, as I found it is an issue when using PowerShell with that command

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This answer is posted as an answer to a question that was closed as a duplicate, Windows Explorer Search for: Folder name BEGINS WITH [Search term], despite the fact that the accepted answer to this question is wrong because the FolderName property of a folder is its parent:

  • Test folders:

    enter image description here

  • FolderName:FindMe search results:

    enter image description here

The second answer is closer, but doesn't limit results to names that begin with the desired search term:

  • type:="File Folder" name:FIndMe search results:

    enter image description here

To limit results to those names that begin with the desired search string, you have to use the relatively unknown query operator ~<, documented here :

  • type:Directory name:~<FindMe serach results:

    enter image description here

    • Note: type:Directory == type:"File Folder"

Another useful operator documented on the linked page is ~ (Allow DOS wildcards within quoted strings):

  • type:Directory name:~"FindMe*" serach results:

    enter image description here

It's useful when you search term contains special characters like parentheses:

  • type:Directory name:~"*(desired)*" search results:

    enter image description here

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If you have a French Windows 7 none of the above phrases works. You need a plus sign between the key words (+)

type:="Dossier de fichiers" + nom: [input the folder name, without the brackets. Add a space after : character]

Example: type:="Dossier de fichiers" + nom: Bozo Abc

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    (1) I appreciate the fact that the French version of Microsoft Windows requires certain commands and keywords to be entered in French.  But please write the narrative / descriptive part of your answer in English.  The user isn’t actually supposed to type “tapez le nom de votre dossier, sans les parenthèses. Tapez un espace après nom”, are they?  (2) If you are copying this answer from somewhere, you should say where.
    – Scott - Слава Україні
    Nov 1, 2018 at 17:43

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