Windows 10: Windows 11: how to enable instant search results in File Explorer

File Explorer's search functionality has not changed all that much in the past decade. Users type a search term in the interface and wait then until results are populated.



Microsoft has been testing an instant search results feature in File Explorer for some time. Instead of waiting for the user input to end, File Explorer is returning results as the user types.

The update KB5018496, which Microsoft released in October 2022, introduced the functionality. Microsoft likes slow rollouts of new features, and most users won't have the functionality enabled on their Windows 11 devices by now.

There is a way to unlock the instant search feature of File Explorer right away though. If you are interested in getting it right now, you may do the following to unlock it on your devices.

Note that Windows 11 version 22H2 with the October 2022 cumulative update is required. The build number needs to be 22621.754 or higher. You may check the build number by opening start, typing winver and loading the result.

Enable instant search results in File Explorer

1. Download the latest versino of ViVeTool from the GitHub repository. It is an open source tool that enables you to unlock features in Windows 11 that Microsoft rolls out over time.
2. Extract the ViVeTool archive on the device.
3. Open Start, type CMD, and select Run as Administrator to launch an elevated command prompt window. You may also use PowerShell for that if you prefer it, or load Windows Terminal with elevated privileges from the Windows-X menu.
4. Change the directory to the ViVeTool directory, e.g., type cd C:\Users\Martin\Downloads\ViVeTool-v0.3.2. Replace the username Martin with your username.
5. Run the following two commands:
   1. vivetool /enable /id:39281392
   2. vivetool /enable /id:38665217
6. Restart the Windows 11 PC.

File Explorer returns search results as you type after the restart. Just start to type, and you will notice that the results are returned while you type. Note that there is no option currently to disable the functionality in the Settings.

You may use ViVeTool to disable the functionality again. Just use the /disable parameter when you run the commands. The first command would look like this in that case: vivetool /disable/id:39281392

Closing Words

Instant search may speed up some searches in File Explorer, but it may also cause more load on the system temporarily. Some users may find it confusing, also, as unrelated results may be displayed at times.

Now You: which do you prefer? Instant search results or classic search results? (via Deskmodder)

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No Instant Search Result in File Explorer

When searching in file explore search results are displayed right below the search bar in a list, but only when you hit Enter, the complete result is displayed.

How do i restore it so i have Instant Search Results.

Verson: 1909

OS Build: 18363.535

 

No Instant Search Result in File Explorer

I agree with Nigels, this is certainly not an improvement. My users certainly have voiced their concerns over not having the instant search results. If there was anyway this could be reversed, I know myself and many others would be very happy.

 

File Explorer Search no more instant results for files on Windows Server since Windows 10 version 1909

With the latest Windows 10 fall update (version 1909 / 19H2), instant search results no longer work for files that are on our small business Windows server.

To reproduce: navigate to a document folder on Windows server (we have 2012) in Windows Explorer. Write something in the search box. No search is performed in that directory or subdirectories, until you press enter.

We do not want to sync all our business documents to each client. That would be a great waste of disk space, and creates unnecessary sync issues. We do not want to move all our documents to Onedrive. But we do want to stay productive and get search results
without pressing enter. It's a task that is performed hundreds of times every day.

Why make things less productive and more time intensive for businesses? In windows 7, you could search files indexed on the server from the start menu. That fantastic feature was removed in Windows 8 and never came back. And now, this penalty for all businesses
using windows server.

Is there a way to return to the old file explorer search, or to enable instant results also for documents on the server (ie. that are indexed locally on the server)?