Windows Basics —

Working with Files

Windows Basics: Working with Files

Lesson 3: Working with Files

Working with files

Understanding how to work with files and folders is an important part of using your computer. Once you understand how files and folder work, you’ll use them all the time. In this lesson, we’ll show you the absolute basics of working with files, including how to open files, move your files into folders, and delete files.

Watch the video below to learn more about using files and folders in Windows.

What is a file?

There are many different types of files you can use. For example, Microsoft Word documents, digital photos, digital music, and digital videos are all types of files. You might even think of a file as a digital version of a real-world thing you can interact with on your computer. When you use different applications, you’ll often be viewing, creating, or editing files.

Files are usually represented by an icon. In the image below, you can see a few different types of files below the Recycle Bin on the desktop.

What is a folder?

Windows uses folders to help you organize files. You can put files inside a folder, just like you would put documents inside a real folder. In the image below, you can see some folders on the desktop.

File Explorer

You can view and organize files and folders using a built-in application known as File Explorer (called Windows Explorer in Windows 7 and earlier versions).

To open File Explorer, click the File Explorer icon on the taskbar, or double-click any folder on your desktop. A new File Explorer window will appear. Now you’re ready to start working with your files and folders.

From File Explorer, double-click a folder to open it. You can then see all of the files stored in that folder.

Notice that you can also see the location of a folder in the address bar near the top of the window.

To open a file:

There are two main ways to open a file:

Find the file on your computer and double-click it. This will open the file in its default application. In our example, we’ll open a Microsoft Word document (Cover Letter.docx), which will open in Microsoft Word.

Moving and deleting files

As you begin using your computer, you will start to collect more and more files, which can make it more difficult to find the files you need. Fortunately, Windows allows you to move files to different folders and delete files you no longer use.

To move a file:

It’s easy to move a file from one location to another. For example, you might have a file on the desktop that you want to move to your Documents folder.

Click and drag the file to the desired location.

You can use this same technique to move an entire folder. Note that moving a folder will also move all of the files within that folder.

To create a new folder:

1. Within File Explorer, locate and select the New folder button. You can also right-click where you want the folder to appear, then select New > Folder.

To rename a file or folder:

You can change the name of any file or folder. A unique name will make it easier to remember what type of information is saved in the file or folder.

1. Click the file or folder, waitabout one second, and click again. An editable text field will appear.
2. Type the desired name on your keyboard and press Enter. The name will be changed.

You can also right-click the folder and select Rename from the menu that appears.

To delete a file or folder:

If you no longer need to use a file, you can delete it. When you delete a file, it is moved to the Recycle Bin. If you change your mind, you can move the file from the Recycle Bin back to its original location. If you’re sure you want to permanently delete the file, you will need to empty the Recycle Bin.

Click and drag the file to the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop. You can also click the file to select it and press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Note that deleting a folder will also delete all of the files within that folder.

Selecting multiple files

Now that you know the basics, here are a few tips to help you move your files even faster.

Selecting more than one file

There are a few ways to select more than one file at a time:

If you’re viewing your files as icons, you can click and drag the mouse to draw a box around the files you want to select. When you’re done, release the mouse; the files will be selected. You can now move, copy, or delete all of these files at the same time.

Selecting all files

If you want to select all files in a folder at the same time, open the folder in File Explorer and press Ctrl+A (press and hold the Control key on your keyboard, then press A). All of the files in the folder will be selected.

Ctrl+A is an example of a keyboard shortcut. We’ll talk more about these in our lesson on Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows.

If working with files and folders feels a little tricky right now, don’t worry! Like anything else, working with files and folders is largely a matter of practice. You’ll start to feel more comfortable as you continue using your computer. In the next lesson, we’ll talk about another important concept: how to find files on your computer that you can’t easily locate.

Shortcuts

If you have a file or folder you use frequently, you can save time by creating a shortcut on the desktop. Instead of navigating to the file or folder each time you want to use it, you can simply double-click the shortcut to open it. A shortcut will have a small arrow in the lower-left corner of the icon.

Note that creating a shortcut does not create a duplicate copy of the folder; it’s simply a way to access the folder more quickly. If you delete a shortcut, it will not delete the actual folder or the files it contains. Also note that copying a shortcut onto a flash drive will not work; if you want to bring a file with you, you’ll need to navigate to the actual location of the file and copy it to the flash drive.

To create a shortcut:

1. Locate and right-click the desired folder, then select Send to Desktop (create shortcut).

A shortcut to the folder will appear on the desktop. Notice the arrow in the lower-left corner of the icon. You can now double-click the shortcut to open the folder at any time.

You can also hold the Alt key on your keyboard, then click and drag the folder to the desktop to create a shortcut.

How to Fix File Explorer Search Not Working in Windows 10

October 4, 2020 By Admin

Is Search box of File Explorer not working on your computer? If you are facing this issue at your end, you are not alone. Some Windows 10 users are also complaining about similar kind of issue at their end. Follow the fixes of this article and the problem will be solved quickly. But before going ahead for the main solutions, check out these simpler workarounds and check if they works out for you or not.

Workarounds–

1. Press “Esc” key when the Search box is not responding on your computer. It will offer some temporarily fix for the problem.

2. Reboot your computer and check if it helps or not.

3. Check if any Windows Update is pending or not. If any of the updates are pending on your computer, update your system, check if it is working or not.

If any of these workarounds didn’t work out for you, go for these solutions-

Fix-1 Modify File Explorer options-

Modifying File Explorer Options on your computer may solve this issue.

1. Press Windows key+R to launch Run window on your computer. Now, type or copy-paste “control.exe folders” in Run window and then hit Enter. File Explorer Options window will be opened.

2. In File Explorer Options window, go to “View” tab and then toggle the option “Launch folder windows in a separate process“. (You can check/ uncheck the option.)

3. Click on “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.

Relaunch File Explorer on your computer. After opening File Explorer window, type to search something in File Explorer and check if the error is still there or not. Your problem should be solved.

Fix 2 – via Powershell

1. Press Windows key + R key together to open RUN.

2. Write powershell in it .

3. Press CTRL + Shift + Esc keys together from your keyboard to open elevated powershell window.

4. Write the following command given below and hit enter key.

Wait for some time to get it executed fully.

Fix 3 – Rebuild Search Index

1. Press Windows key + R together to open RUN command box.

2. Copy and paste the following code in text field and click OK.

2. Click on Advanced.

3. Choose Tab File Types

4. Select Index Properties and File Contents

5. Click OK.

6. Choose OK when the Confirmation prompt pops up.

Fix 4 – Make sure Windows Search Service is Running

1. Press Windows key + R together to Open RUN.

2. Now, Write services.msc in it and Press OK.

3. Locate Windows Search Service, right click on it and Click on Properties.

4. Make sure the Startup Type is Automatic. If it is not Change it to Automatic.

5. Make sure that Service is running also. If it is not running, Click on start to start it.

Fix 5 – End Cortana Process

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys together to Open Task manager.

2. Now, Locate Cortana and do a Right Click on it and Choose End task.

Doing this will restart the Cortana process and will Fix the issue.

Fix 6 – Install KB4532695 update to fix this

Microsoft have released KB4532695 update which seems to fix this issue for the PC affected by this bug. Just download ans install KB4532695 from this official Microsoft website.

Fix 7- Add System permission to a folder

If this problem persists with a particular folder then , system permission may be missing from the folder. To set this do this:

1. Do a Right click on the folder

2. Click on Properties

3. Click on Security Tab.

4. If you do not see System in the List of Group or User Name, Click on Edit.

5. Click on Add.

6. Write system in the text box and Click on Check names.

7. Keep Clicking on OK and Close every Open box so far.

Fix 8 – Troubleshoot Search and Indexing

1. Press Windows key + R together and write Control Panel in RUN command Box and Click OK to Open Control Panel.

2. Select Large icons in View by .

3. Click on Troubleshooting

4. Click on View all from the Right Menu.

5. Locate Search and Indexing and Click on it.

6. Choose Files Don’t appear in Search Results

7. Proceed with On Screen instructions.

Fix 9 – Default Apps by protocol

1. Press Windows key + I to open settings

2. Click on Apps.

3. Click on Default Apps from the left menu. Now, scroll in the right side and click on Choose default apps by protocol.

4. Now, scroll and and in the left side look for windows search protocol. After locating it just select windows explorer from the right, if it is not selected.

Saurav is associated with IT industry and computers for more than a decade and is writing on The Geek Page on topics revolving on windows 10 and softwares.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Rombout Versluijs says

Does some one know or how i can make it stop refreshing or restarting the search everytime it looses focus. So for example i have 2 windows, ill do a search in on window and let it run and get results, that all works fine. Now ill focus on that second window browser through some folders and return to that other window. Why does it restart the search and clears all the results? THis is really counter intuitive, its making me go nuts

Thanks so much for this! By the time I got into fix 3 it my search was back!

Fix #2 actually worked for me!! I work a lot with a huge album of product photos so not being able to search was getting to be a real time suck. Thanks!

Fix 2 worked for me, thanks!

Thank you, option #3 finally got it working again. many thanks

John — Manchester says

Jan, some people cure diseases, some people save people from burning building, you have saved my keyboard from being smashed to bits and my poor cat for being pushed off my desk when she’s looking for strokes – which I believe is on par with the others.
Thanks for that, nothing worked for me until I ran that command and I’ve been trying for 3-4 hours today and 3-4 hours for the best part of another day a month ago (that time Indexing worked).
All the best 🙂

Jan’s solution is only one that worked for me. Windows 2004.

@Jan
You are a hero to me. I looked for days to find a solution. Nothing, realy nothing worked for me. As everything failed, why not try your solution.

What should I say; the only working solution.

Thanks so much for this powershell script.

Wow, had to get all the way down to Fix 8, but that fixed it! This File Explorer Search issue just happened with the last Windows update. Thanks for all the great suggestions!

Thanks a bunch Jan, ran the powershell script you left and worked. Did absolutely everything else everyone else suggested and no luck.

For me it was the SearchApp.exe process that kept crashing. That process was previously called SearchUI.exe, I think, and was a part of Cortana. Microsoft.Windows.Cortana has now changed name to Microsoft.Windows.Search, located in C:\Windows\SystemApps\.

To fix this issue for my user in Windows 10 2004 I ran the following command in PowerShell:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Search | Foreach

Athanasios Chaldoupis says

I had also problem with explorer’s search. I solved it this way:
Open the Registry Editor. Find the key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
1) Go to “ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin” value , double click on it and set the data to 0 (zero).
2) Go to “EnableLUA” value double click on it and set the data to 0 (zero). If the value “EnableLUA” does not exist you must create it with right click as DWORD (32-bit).
Reboot your system to activate the changes.

RUSSELL CAROLLA says

I have tried out all the possibilities => without success

Why Microsoft? Windows 7 never had this issue

None of the steps above worked, though I did have an interesting time. Along with some other users, I tried to restart File Explorer from the Task Manager without many expectations. But, surprise surprise, it worked 🙂

Tried looking at default apps by protocol. Doing so immediately overrode all my custom defaults; hence I now have to contend with that, as well as the original fault

which remains unfixed. I suspect a buggy program… Sigh…

Finally the search is working. My problem was a little different in that I added a couple of file extensions (file types) but Windows Explorer wasn’t finding files in known searches. Specifically the new file types were .php files. Known searches would find strings in .css and .html files but not .php files. It was as if Windows Explorer was still blind to .php files. I tried everything, including running the PowerShell fix-it script, but none of it worked.

What seemed to make a difference was to go into Indexing Options, under “Index these Locations” I removed an entry for something that was no longer on my computer. When re-ran the index, the count of the number of items indexed increased dramatically. Now File Explorer searches were getting hits in the newly added (.php) file types.

I’ve been at this so long, now I can’t remember the problem for which I needed this capability. Ugh.

Fix-1 did the trick !!

Thank you very much, saved a lot of trouble !

I have manage to fix this issue in my windows10 (amd64)

1º step – Restore indexing services
2º step – make a shortcut of %windir%\System32\ctfmom.exe and place it on startup folder ..

( now everytime my pc startup it will auto run the ctfmom.exe allowing me to use the search functions )

Is enabling search indexing for SSD disk any good?

Restart Explorer worked 4me!
Cortannnnnna is OFF.

Tried all steps but Cortana as I do not want it running on my computer. Restarted Windows Explorer too and nothing has helped! Submitted issue (along with 100s of others) on Microsoft support page. Still waiting for fix!

Follow all steps in thegeekpage.com above, once done, you now have experience on skills. Click file explorer and try to click in search box. Still you can’t type in example *.jpg ? Or *.exe ? Do what post from Julia said. Opentask manager and find task Windows Explorer. Right click for menu popup. Click restart. Go to destop, click icon file explorer, click your path, say C: drive, then search box type in *.exe or *.jpg
Wow it freakin works now bill gates.

Robert Eckerlin says

I have the same problem. It is especially after an attempt to search my whole C Partition, that the the Search function stops to work. To work around this problem of not being able to search the whole C partition, I reboot the PC.

This happens much too often

I too, i am currently extremely disatisified with Windows 10 and I regrtet very much my very stable Windows / (that I gave up. because the end od its support period by Microsoft).
.
By the way: I resent very much that various excellent well functioning piece of Hardware are not supported under Windows 10: my excellent compact Bluetooth (=Bluetooth V3) K810 Keyboard, my excellent compact flatbed Canon Lide 200 Scanner, my excellent 10 year old PC….As if a Hardware Manufacturing Mafia took advantage of the end of windows 7 supporft to enrich itself by focring us or pushing us to buy new Hardware: new bluetooth keyboards, new Flatbed scanner, new PCs. is that ecological?

I have the same problem. When I turn on my computer, search box in file explorer stops working after a while. I think it began after the last update of my WIN 10.
Could not find a proper solution for this till now.

Having same problem on my home desktop Windows 10. (I don’t know how you find the 1903 version people keep referring to.) Very interesting, though, that I’ve never had one search issue on my work laptop Windows 10. Are we using some different, business version of Windows 10 that was properly tested, unlike the home version?

I went into the task manager and right clicked on Windows explorer and clicked on restart. This worked.
We shouldn’t have to do this and it only started going wrong after the last windows update.

When I type in FE to name or rename a file, it’s nonsense. I can hit the same key over and over and different characters/numbers will type each time. What the heck?

Julia’s fix worked for me:
I went into the task manager and right clicked on file explorer and clicked on restart. This worked for me after none of these did.

Broak Navi says

Like many others this didn’t work for me.

The amount of bugs in windows 10 is staggering.
I currently work as a contractor at Microsoft and even though I reported this issue months ago (which they came back with won’t fix) it won’t be fixed anytime soon. They (MS higher ups) needs to get their act together and fix their core systems. I’ve had calculator stop working, windows randomly not opening as expected, this search issue, clicks not working, just type from start menu not doing anything.
Staggering amount of bugs..
This is due to internal shifts removing more and more testers. Their hope was the devs would do the testing as well.. but most devs make crappy testers.

Answer is easy. Shift focus back into the OS. Make the OS super stable/solid and then go from there. Lots and lots of cool features.. but half working or not working at all just frustrates us to no end. 10 years here.. and the bubble is slowly collapsing. I just hope they reach their goal before it does.

I went into the task manager and right clicked on file explorer and clicked on restart. This worked for me after none of these did.

Mark Geller says

Having same problem with File Explorer…nothing happens when I click search box or try to type something into search box. Very frustrating especially when I need to search a folder with many, many, many files.
I started experiencing problem towards end of November.

Kendall DeMott says

None of this worked, Win 10 64 bit, latest updates. Can’t type in Explorer search window, this also goes for the search window in the Control Panel. I have no idea what the Ms people have done, but Win 10 has become a piece of crap, and years of Explorer working without issue, its now very buggy, and crashes a lot. Bill, please fire, and hire someone that can do a proper job!

I also have the issue since the November 2019 update

Cortana’s Frenemy says

Unfortunately none of these helped – when I click on the search box in Explorer nothing happens, I cannot type anything into the box. Also the Start Menu/Taskbar search appears to be affected; sometimes it closes as soon as I type a letter, other times it works.

I have gone to great (and varied) lengths to disable Cortana and it appears that one of the changed settings/hacks I did has disabled search in the most recent Windows update. I’m going to try re-enabling Cortana as much as possible to see if that helps.

The problem started roughly the last week of November 2019, so probably something in the Version 1903 update.

Hoping someone can find a solution, as I’m sure this has impacted a bunch of people.

I have tried out all the possibilities => without success 🙁

Milan Patnaik says

Thanks.
It helped me to resolve my issue.