Looking for some windows 10 advance file search rather than just using the inbuilt one. Then here are some best
file search tools to get a list of all files available under your Windows My computer drives.
The standard Windows search
Most of the time when we have to search files in Windows 10 or earlier versions such as Windows 8 or 7, what do we do? Yes, we open My Computer and use the top right side search box to find most of the PC files. Indeed, the features of the inbuilt search tool of Windows are good and work very well. Yet, in case your Windows 10 search is not working or you want some advanced options then there are a couple of good freeware programs available to download online. They are not only light in weight but some of them offer a portable version which omits the need for their installation. We can use them to find out various files based on their format, extension, and more…
Note: We have personally used all the listed tools for searching files on Windows 10, 8, or 7 in the best possible way.
Top Windows 10 advance file search tools- 2021
1. Listary- fast file search for windows 10
A very light tool of just 3.35 MB with minimal design and easy to handle interface. The concept of the tool is very unique, we don’t have to open it every time to search for something. Simply type the folder or file name and the Listary will automatically catch that to give to you the result. You can see Listary’s working in the below video.
The feature that lets instantly search files using Listarty known as Disk Search which lets users directly type on Windows explorer.
The program is not just limited to files but can also search and open applications. To activate the Launch App feature of Listary just press Ctrl key two times and start typing the name of the software you want to use or type shortcode.
Furthermore, we can also use to search online websites or webpages using various search engines. For example, if you want to search, let’s say “how2shout” then simply press the CTRL button on the keyboard two times and then type – gg how2shout. gg is a keyword to trigger the Google search engine. In the same way for Youtube type – youtube latest song
Apart from the regular installer, the portable version of Listary is available on the official website. Download Listary
Know more– How to search for and delete duplicate files
2. Everything free search tool
Everything is a free fast file search tool for Windows 10/8/7 that is not only lightweight but also a quick way to search all types of files on your computer. It is available in two forms, in regular installation and portable. So, we can use Everything without installing anything on our Windows 10. Simply unzip the folder, double click on the setup, and start searching files across the computer installed Hard drives.
After starting it, the software starts indexes the files in the background which helps the user in the future to find files without waiting much.
You can adapt everything to your requirements via Settings. Everything is also integrated into the tray area next to the clock. With the menu item “Search” you can choose what type of file you are looking for.
Two very handy features for those who want to access their systems file via ETP/FTP or HTTP server. Yes, Everything comes with inbuilt FTP and HTTP servers, we can start them with just one click to access all our systems files across the local network.
Further, we can restrict the software from searching files in some particular drive of the PC or can extend that to search even network folders and removable drives.
In case you have some sensitive files or folders that you don’t want Everything to index or show in search results, then a provision to exclude such items is also available.
Searching Windows 10 files using Search/Rgrex Syntax, command line, based on category or extension, and more are there.
3. Wise JetSearch- Discover files quickly
Wise JetSearch is another best fast file search software for Windows 10 or 7 on our list. This is around 5 MB software with a simple & minimal interface to only offer things that a person needs whose focus is only Quick file searching.
To make things easier for users, JetSearch integrates a search bar at the top of the window. It offers a pop-up widget that by default hidden on the top of the display and as we hover our mouse it appears with a search box.
At the top left, select the storage location or drive on which you want to search for documents. Enter the search term in the middle and start the search with the “Search” button. You can use the search field to choose what type of document you are looking for. Visit Website
4. UltraSearch Free
UltraSearch is one of the file search software which doesn’t let you feel that you are using some third-party tool for searching and not Windows File Explorer. Its interface is similar to the Windows explorer and also the icons. That makes it easy for users to understand thus anyone can handle it to search all files on Windows 10, 8, or 7.
In the below screenshot, you can see the familiarity it provides. We can add local and network drives with just one click. Whereas the left portion on the search result can be seen to get a preview of files and folders including other details.
With one click the UltraSearch allows you to copy the path, exclude files from search, select the types of files you want to search, delete, open, rename, and more…
UltraSearch works with the Master File Table (MFT), which Windows creates by default. Via “Options” we can make perform further settings, for example, define file groups or expand the context menu of the Explorer.
Download UltraSearch
5. Lookeen
If your file search windows 10 not working then Lookeen is another free option to look for. You can easily find a saved file on your computer’s local and network drives once the indexing will be done on the software. Of course, if you have a large amount of data then this will take some time.
How to start Indexing in Looken to search files?
The interface of Lookeen is quite user-friendly and modern. Anybody could easily understand it. Once you install this folder or file search tool indexing will not start automatically and we need to do that manually. Therefore,
- Click on the Index option given on the menu.
- Select the Start button to initiate the file indexing in Looken.
- By default it only searches the C Drive of the system, thus, go to Options given in the menu.
- Click on the Add Store button.
- Select File System Archive.
- Hit the Browse button.
- Select the other drives that content you want to be in Looken search results.
The free version of Looken not only indexes files in real-time but also gives a preview of the files (PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files) when get selected by the user. Even we can edit text files directly in the Lookeen preview window. It can index Outlook categories or exclude the files based on their extensions.
To save time, we can schedule the Indexing process as per our convenience, the software will do that as directed. Thus, it will save our time and us from manually doing the same.
It is compatible with Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista. Download Looken
6. GrepWin- Open source windows file search tool
GrepWin project is available on GitHub to download as an installer and portable options. It is open-source thus anybody can use it free of cost. However, this file search tool is slightly advance and beginners could take some time to get themselves familiar with its working.
Anyone who has dealt with windows 10 file explorer search syntax can easily get used to Grepwin. It is suitable for a comprehensive search for files. The tool works with regular expressions, RegEx, and can save certain search terms as favorites.
We can limit the search by the file size and date; create back of files, include hidden items, and more… But all from the single Windows design of the software. Get the GrepWin
7. Fileseek
Another powerful free option to search all Windows and other files and folders of local or network disks. By default, all the available drives will be selected on the software. The interface of the Fileseek is compact and every possible element can be accessed immediately including the preview of files.
We can exclude the path or some particular files so that they couldn’t appear in the search results. Size and Data filters can also be used to get accurate results. One thing you should keep in mind for FileSeek, while installation it will ask you to install other software from the same developer. Simply decline them and you will only have FileSeek on your system.
8. Copernic Desktop Search Lite
Copernic Desktop is a freemium tool that comes with advanced search options, however, for advance features the users have to go for the paid version. Because the free version is not only limited to indexing a maximum of 75,000 files and also lacks features such as search of Outlook emails, Adobe Photoshop Files, e-Book, and more…
Well, the free version is not bad, we have a good interface and the ability to search local, external, and network drives.
Other Available search tools
So, the above were some best search tools options available in the free category to search all local and network drives of Windows for the various kinds of files and folders. However, apart from them there few more, we haven’t tested them but you can and also lots of websites recommend them. Therefore here are those to search for files:
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Listary doesn’t work. It seems to load but isn’t available to enter information. Uninstall claims it’s running, so you have to open task manager to close its (multiple) running tasks – should be more clear how it works.
How about Anytxt ?
It’s free, I am using it, and I like it.
I have been using “EVERYTHING” for a few years now, and was very happy with it. But the last few update, DO NOTE search any drive that is not in the “NTFS” format. This makes it a bit worthless for me. This is not motioned the above briefing. Thought others might have the same issues with this one.