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Your computer has a default data search system to help you find desired files. For more effective and precise searches, users must be aware of the following tips for quick file searches on the computer. While there are search software alternatives, try these tips before resorting to such tools.
Explore Tips for Quick File, Document, and Folder Search on Your Computer
1. Employ Logic Algorithms for Efficient Search
For a swift file search on your computer, Mytour recommends utilizing logic algorithms like OR, AND, and NOT. Remember, these algorithms only apply when you capitalize all letters, and this tip is effective in Windows Explorer, not StartMenu.
- For OR: Results will display files matching any specified values. Example: File_1 OR File_2, the computer will show all files with the name of either of the two files.
- With AND: Results must satisfy both or all specified conditions to be displayed. Example: File_1 AND File_2 means the file must contain both of these words to be shown; this is a precise file search.
2. Utilize placeholder characters for efficient searches.
This quick file search tip empowers users to find files based on a certain pattern without knowing the specific characters involved.
- For instance, if you're looking for a file like Mytour.JPG but can't recall the exact name, you can use '?' to substitute any character, like Mytour.??.JPG -> here, the two question marks will stand in for any two characters.
- Another example is when you want to find a file like Mytour.JPG but only know it's an image and don't remember the name. In this case, you can search using the syntax *.JPG . However, this method may be less effective if the directory contains numerous images.
3. Precise File Search
For the most accurate file search, we employ double quotation marks to search for files. The search results must exactly match the phrase enclosed in the quotes, whether it's two words, three words, or a long sentence. For example, if you want to find files with the name Mytour and without any prefixes or suffixes, you use 'Mytour' for the search.
4. Locate Files Based on Size
Another method to search for files on your computer is through the file size. Use the syntax Size: file size to perform the search. Additionally, the system provides some options for searching, such as:
- Size: Empty -> Search for files with a size of 0 KB (empty files).
- Size: Tiny -> Search for files with a size of 0 - 10 KB.
- Size: Small -> Search for files with a size of 10 - 100 KB.
- Size: Medium -> Search for files with a size of 100 KB - 1 MB.
- Size: Large -> Search for files with a size of 1 MB - 16 MB.
- Size: Huge -> Search for files with a size of 16 - 128 MB.
- Size: Gigantic -> Search for files with a size > 128 MB.
If you want to find a video file with a size of around 800 MB, you can use Size:>=750MB <=> or Size:750MB...850MB
5. Utilize StartMenu for Searching
StartMenu is a highly useful tool for quickly searching for a specific file. While not exhaustive, StartMenu is the most convenient and fastest tool for file searches. Especially on Windows 10, where StartMenu has been improved to search for various file types, prioritizing the results based on your commonly used files.
6. Categorize Files by Type
Classifying files by types such as Folder, Date, Tag, Size is a quick file search tip on both computers and Windows. The strength lies in displaying results exactly according to the file type you are looking for. However, its weakness is the inability to perform broad searches, and in folders with numerous file types, it may not yield accurate results.
7. Utilize Software for File Search
Using software is an effective tip for swiftly achieving your file search goals on a computer. Currently, there are many free file search software options available. Here, we recommend a software named Everything, with Everythingeverything can be searched and manipulated. You can fully apply the quick file search tips mentioned above using Everything on your computer.
Here are some tips for quickly finding files on your computer that Mytour wants you to know and understand because at some point it will be helpful for you in searching for files on your computer. If you're using Windows 10 and facing issues with file search, try the solution to fix the problem of not being able to search for files on Windows 10. In the tutorial on fixing file search errors on Windows 10, Mytour has written in detail so that readers can follow along. Additionally, you can also follow the article on quick file search on Win 10.
