How to Find Files in Windows

Finding a file in Windows is helpful when you don't know a file's location or the file name. The Window's file search can retrieve a list of files matching a variety of criteria. The following steps will show how to conduct an effective file search.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Bring up the "Search Results" window by clicking the "Start" button and clicking "Search." You can also click the "Search" button on a Windows Explorer window.
2. Look at the left panel. If you already know what type of file you are looking for, you can use one of these options to narrow your search results. If you are not sure about the file type, just click on the link that says "All files and folders."
3. Enter the exact file name if you know it, including the extension. This usually will give you the shortest list of search results. Keep in mind that even an exact file name may return multiple results.
4. Type in a partial file name using an asterisk to indicate the parts of the file name you don't know, including the extension. For example, if the file you are looking for contains the word "fish" you would enter "*fish*.*."
5. Include the file modification date or the size of the file to further narrow the search. You might want to explore the advanced options to narrow the search.
6. Wait for Windows to return your results. This can easily take several minutes on a large hard drive. Once the results are returned, they can be browsed just like any other folder.

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