Although Windows 10 includes a search feature to help you find files and folders on your device, it’s been a feature limited to search only your documents, pictures, videos, and desktop by default.
Starting with Windows 10 version 1903, Microsoft is making changes to the search indexing with a new enhanced mode that users can select to search across all folders and drives, instead of limiting search to the default libraries.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to enable search in enhanced mode to allow the system to search all your folders and drives on Windows 10 version 1903 (May 2019 Update).
- How to enable enhanced mode for search on Windows 10
- How to exclude folders for search on Windows 10
How to enable enhanced mode for search on Windows 10
To enable the enhanced search mode on Windows 10, use these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Click on Cortana.
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Click on Searching Windows.
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Under “Find My Files,” select the Enhanced option.
Windows 10 Enhanced search on version 1903
Once you’ve completed the steps, the system will start a one-time indexing process that will enable you to use search to find files in all your folders and drives.
The process should take around 15 minutes, but the time will really depend on the number of files on your computer hardware.
By designed, to improve search performance, the feature will exclude temporary folders and operating system files. Also, the feature will automatically exclude folders and files that change quickly, like program data folders.
How to exclude folders for search on Windows 10
If you want to include or exclude folders, you can use these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Click on Cortana.
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Click on Searching Windows.
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Under “Excluded Folders,” click the Add an excluded folder button.
Exclude folders from search on Windows 10 version 1903 -
Locate the folder.
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Click the Select Folder button.
If you want to include an excluded folder, just select the folder, and then click the Remove excluded folder button.
After completing the steps, search will only look at all the folders and drives, ignoring those in the excluded list.
If you don’t see these settings, it’s because you’re not running the version of Windows 10 that supports this feature. Enhanced search is available starting with Windows 10 version 1903, which is expected to rollout sometime in 2019.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].