How to Locate EXE Files on a Drive

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Windows Search makes finding downloaded programs quick and simple.

If you have ever installed or launched a program on your computer, you're familiar with .exe files. .Exe files, also called executable files, are so named because they open or execute a process when accessed. If you've downloaded a new program from the Internet, it is sometimes hard to tell where the program went. Instead of searching for the .exe file by manually looking through folders on the computer, it's possible to let Windows Search find the program for you.

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Step 1

Click on the "Start" button. Click on the search bar at the bottom of the Start menu.

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Step 2

Type ".exe." A list of .exe files on your computer's hard drive appears. If you have an external hard drive or USB storage device connected, .exe files on those devices appear as well.

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Step 3

Click "Files" in the results list. If you have many files to look through, click the arrow on the top-right side of the window to organize the list. Choose between views such as "List," "Content" or "Tiles."

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Step 4

Double-click on the .exe file, when you locate it, to launch it.

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