Mastering Windows Search: A Deep Dive into Customizing and Optimizing
As a long-time Windows user, I’ve had a complex relationship with the search function. While incredibly useful, the default settings don’t always align with personal preferences. After years of tweaking, I’ve honed an optimal setup – one that surfaces relevant apps and files in seconds without the clutter of unnecessary results. Here, I’ll walk through customizing Windows Search to boost productivity.
Enhanced Search
This underrated setting turbocharges search, recognizing synonyms and delivering broader results. Access it by opening Settings, selecting "Privacy & security," then "Searching Windows." Tick "Enhanced search" and reboot. Now searches find files regardless of specificity – searches for "document" return Word docs, for example. It does wonders for vague memories.
How to disable recommended app list in Windows 10?
You could use this tutorial to disable the Recommended app list in the Start Menu in such situations. Press Win+I to open the Windows Settings. Go to the setting. Click on the option. Toggle the Show recently added apps button. Toggle the Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer button.
How do I remove tips from Windows 10 settings?
If you’re running Windows 10 Pro (or Enterprise), the easiest way to remove tips on the right side of the Settings pages is to use the Local Group Policy Editor. Follow these steps: Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command. Type gpedit.msc and click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Search Indexing
Controlling which folders Windows indexes is crucial for quick searches. Access the indexing options by hitting Win+E to open File Explorer then selecting "View" > "Options" > "Change folder and search options." I recommend indexing all local disks and drives to start. Large network locations are best left unindexed or search slows down substantially.
You can also add and remove specific folders here. I always index personal document folders while removing indexing from temporary download folders – no need to search downloads. Click "Modify" to open the indexing dialogue box then check or uncheck folders as desired before pressing "OK."
Search Bar Visibility
The search bar cluttered my taskbar, so I toggled it off. Right click the taskbar, choose "Search," then select "Hidden." This removes the search bar, leaving just the icon. Click it to open search as normal. For only the icon, choose "Show search icon."
To add the search bar back, repeat the steps but select "Show search box." I find the icon or hidden options present a cleaner taskbar while still providing quick access.
How to hide any desired page or section from Windows 10 Settings app?
If you also want to hide any desired page or section from Windows 10 Settings app, following steps will help you: 1. Press “ WIN+R ” key combination to launch RUN dialog box then type gpedit.msc and press Enter. It’ll open Group Policy Editor. 2. Now go to: 3. In right-side pane, look for “ Settings Page Visibility ” option.
How do I hide a group policy page in Windows 10?
In the Local Group Policy Editor pane, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel. In the right-hand pane, double-click on Settings Page Visibility. Change the setting from Not Configured to Enabled. In the Options section of the pane, type hide: followed by the name of the settings page, using the URI label.
Search Highlights
When enabled, highlights appear on searched terms within results – similar to Ctrl+F browser searches. I love this feature for identifying relevant documents faster.
Enable it by right clicking the taskbar, choosing "Search," then ticking "Show search highlights." The default yellow highlights are jarring to me, so I modify the accent color to soft blue for a calmer effect. This optional customization makes search highlights far more usable.
Third Party Utilities
While Windows Search works great out of the box, third party utilities like Everything offer unique advantages. Everything indexes files in real time rather than on a schedule, delivering instant results. The trade-off is higher resource usage. I prefer Everything for quick document retrieval and Windows Search for robust app/system searches.
Combining Windows Search with a utility like Everything provides both power and speed. I assign Everything to a keyboard shortcut for quick on-demand file searches. Give it a try if you crave lighting fast document lookups.
Hidden Tips
Here are two hidden tricks I’ve picked up over the years:
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Search file contents not just names – append "contents:yourSearch" to find files containing specific text rather than just matching titles.
How to reset apps on Windows 11?
Here’s what you need to know. To reset an app on Windows 11, start by pressing Win + I to bring up the Settings app. Then, navigate to Apps > Installed apps. Scroll through the list of apps on your computer until you get to the one you want.
How do I enable apps & features in Windows 10?
Start by opening the Settings app. A quick way to do that to click or tap on its shortcut from the Start Menu or to press the Windows + I keys simultaneously. Inside Settings, click or tap on Apps. On the left side of the window, Apps & features should already be selected. If it is not, click or tap on it.
How to hide settings in Windows 10 V1703?
You can hide all the Windows 11/10 Settings or hide only selected settings on the Settings page using Group Policy Object or Windows Registry. Hide Settings in Windows 11/10 Restricting access to the Settings page is not difficult on Windows 10 v1703.
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Search by date range – append "date:MM/DD/YYYY..MM/DD/YYYY" replacing the dates to search between a custom date range.
These advanced operators uncover needles in the haystack when I recall key text snippets or date ranges rather than specific titles. Definitely worth adding to your search toolkit.
Closing Thoughts
Optimizing Windows Search feels intimidating at first glance but simple tweaks make a world of difference. Take the time to customize indexing, enable enhanced search, adjust search visibility, and experiment with third party utilities. Before long, you’ll have search working exactly as you wish – delivering only the relevant results in lighting fast time.
With an optimized setup, Windows Search evolves into one of the most productive assets in your toolkit. I can now pinpoint the precise file or app I need in seconds without the usual trawling. Spend an hour personalizing search to your preferences and reap the time savings and efficiency boost for years to come.
How do I block or show only specific pages in Windows 10?
If you’re running Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, the easiest way to block or show only specific pages in the Settings app is using the Local Group Policy Editor. To set Settings page visibility on Windows 10 version 1703, do the following: Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
How do I Reset my Windows 10 Settings app?
You’ll get a prompt that says that your app’s data will be deleted. Click “Reset” in this prompt to continue. The Settings app is now reset. You can now launch it from the Start menu, or by pressing Windows+i. You can also run a command in Windows PowerShell to reset the Settings app. But to do this, you must run Windows 10 build 20175 or newer.
How do I remove a Recommended section in Windows 10?
Name the key Explorer. Right-click the Explorer key, hover over New, and choose DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the name value HideRecommendedSection. Double-click the HideRecommendedSection value in the right pane. Type 1 in the Value Data field and click OK. This will remove the Recommended section.
How do I remove recommended content from Windows 10?
To remove the Recommended section content, open the Settings app, select Personalization from the left sidebar, and click Start in the right pane. In the Start window, you will see three toggles— Show recently added apps, Show most used apps, and Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists.
