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Top Windows Search Alternatives To Supercharge Your Productivity In

Bonisiwe Shabane
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top windows search alternatives to supercharge your productivity in

Are you tired of slow Windows 11 search? Check out these alternatives to the default Windows Search experience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Windows 11 includes a search feature that should be enough for most users, but it often struggles with speed, particularly in non-indexed locations or when handling a large number of files. The search home also feels cluttered with advertisements and lacks polish, which is surprising given it comes from the world's largest software company.

If you want something faster, lighter, or more customizable, several third-party tools can deliver a significantly better search experience. Popular options include Command Palette from PowerToys, Fluent Search, Everything, Listary, Flow Launcher, and RayCast. In this guide, I'll highlight six tools you can use to replace the Search functionality on Windows 11. If there are a million haters of Windows Search, you can be certain I’m one of them. And if somehow nobody else feels that way, I guess I’m on my own. It’s sluggish, cluttered, and wastes so much time that you’d rather look for things manually.

On top of that, the search tools sometimes just stop showing results for no clear reason. I’ve been using a Mac for a long time, too, and even Finder combined with Spotlight Search feels better than Windows Search. I decided to do something about this. At first, I thought it was the Bing search results that made things worse, so I replaced it with Google. But that didn’t help. So, I’ve now replaced Windows Search altogether with an open-source app called DocFetcher, and I’ve noticed a serious jump in my productivity.

DocFetcher is an open-source desktop search tool that works like Google for your local files. Instead of relying on Windows’ inconsistent indexing, it builds its own database from the folders you choose. Once indexed, it can surface results instantly, even from inside file contents. Unlike Windows Search, which tries to act as a launcher, settings finder, and Bing portal, DocFetcher focuses on one job and does it well. It works across Windows, Linux, and macOS. Since it is licensed under the Eclipse Public License, there is no adware, nagging, or hidden data collection.

It supports all kinds of file formats, including but not limited to docx, xlsx, pptx, docm, xlsm, pptm, MP3 Metadata (mp3), FLAC Metadata (flac), JPEG Exif Metadata (jpg, jpeg), Microsoft Visio (vsd), and Scalable... Installing and setting up DocFetcher is simple. After downloading the app, you select the folders you want, such as work documents, research libraries, or your downloads folder, and create indexes for them. Indexing may take a few minutes initially, but once it’s done, searches that would have dragged on or failed in Windows feel instant. Updating the indexes later takes only seconds. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

I've been using open-source software for a very long time. In fact, the last time I didn't use open-source software, Bill Clinton was president of the US. Open-source software is available for nearly every operating system on the market, from desktops to phones, and I often find open-source apps are superior to their proprietary counterparts. If you're a Windows user, you don't have to remain locked into closed-source software, because there are so many alternatives from which you can choose. Also: Want to ditch Windows? This Linux distro makes that transition easy

Let me introduce you to some of my favorites. Your PC desktop is the place where you save most of your important files. These are the files that you need to access frequently. You keep adding files and as they pile up, you need to look for them using the Windows Search function. But, with so many files saved on the Desktop, you need to create separate folders for each file type and this can mess up your desktop. So, when you want to look for a certain file, it can be challenging to find the right one quickly.

Here’s when you need to use the search feature and the one that you automatically think of is the Windows search box. But the Windows search box does not usually livup toto the expectations. It can get really slow and flawed searching for files with a lot of indicators such as file name, type, size, location, etc. So, for those who are frequently looking for files on the desktop, the Windows search is pretty basic. Hence, it would be better to use third-party search tools for Windows. Here we have listed some of the handpicked desktop search tools for Windows that make searching for file super convenient.

Everything is one of the leading desktop search tools that pulls up files and folders by name, instantly. It comes with a compact installation file making it easy to install. It sports a neat and straightforward user interface. The best part is, it indexes files quickly and even offers quick search. This tool takes up minimal resources to find the files you are looking for. While it helps you share files with others effortlessly, it also offers real-time updates.

It’s a simple desktop search software that can use standard expressions to search the files. This helps the tool to carry out more dynamic searches and restorations. The software adds an input to the shell context menu to look for the chosen folders, effortlessly. Once the software is launched, it lets you customize the search function or restoration feature in multiple methods. An administrative tool that finds files and folders by filename instantly, displaying all files on local or network drives. Supports filters, 19 languages, portable usage, lightweight resource consumption, no tracking, and dark mode.

Most users think Everything is a great Windows Search alternative. Everything is the most popular Windows alternative to Windows Search. Everything is the most popular free alternative to Windows Search. DocFetcher is an Open Source desktop search application: It allows you to search the contents of files on your computer. — You can think of it as Google for your local files. The application runs on Windows, Linux and macOS, and is made available under the Eclipse Public License.

Finding files quickly and efficiently on your Windows system can be a significant challenge, especially when the built-in Windows Search falls short. Fortunately, there are several robust alternatives that can help you locate files with greater speed and accuracy. Everything is widely regarded as one of the best alternatives to Windows Search. This free tool is incredibly fast and efficient, allowing you to find any file on your computer in seconds. Here are some key features that make Everything stand out: UltraSearch is another powerful alternative that uses the Master File Table (MFT) to search for files, making it extremely fast and lightweight.

Here are some of its key features: AnyTXT Searcher is ideal for those who need to search within the content of files. Here are its notable features: Agent Ransack is a feature-rich alternative that offers advanced search capabilities: Whenever I use a Mac, I'm always delighted by its excellent Spotlight Search feature. Accessible via an icon in the Menu Bar or the CMD + Spacebar keyboard shortcut, Spotlight is effortlessly snappy, clean and minimalistic, and generally spot on with its search results.

Spotlight has been able to surface results for just about every inquiry I've ever thrown at it, with options to easily preview or to take actions on files and documents. On the other side of the spectrum is Windows Search -- Microsoft's native search tool within its flagship desktop operating system. In my experience, search is an unpleasant experience on Windows 11. Its main interface is visually cluttered, and it relies on slow web-based interface tech that doesn't follow Microsoft's own design language guidelines. The search pane regularly stutters, it seems to always prioritize web results over my local media, and it sometimes fails to register the first letter I type out when initiating a search query. Thankfully, Microsoft has been hard at work improving the backend of Windows Search, by introducing artificial intelligence-based semantic indexing into the mix on compatible Copilot+ PCs.

This improved search experience is still in preview, but it certainly looks promising. In the meantime, there are several excellent third-party search apps available for Windows 11 that can power up the Windows Search experience, with a hint of inspiration taken from macOS' Spotlight Search. Modern Windows apps can be thoughtfully designed, just like their iOS and Android counterparts - here are 12 perfect examples. Fluent Search is a third-party search tool for Windows that provides speedy results, all within an attractive design that leans into Microsoft's Fluent Design language. In the age of information overload, finding the right files on a computer can often feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. While Windows 10 and 11 come with built-in search functionalities that help users locate files quickly, many find these features lacking in speed, efficiency, or customization options.

Fortunately, various third-party desktop search tools offer advanced capabilities that can significantly improve your file search experience on Windows. This article delves into ten of the best alternatives to Windows’ native search functionality, exploring their features, advantages, and ideal use cases. Overview: Everything is one of the most popular search tools available for Windows. What sets it apart is its speed and minimalistic interface. This tool performs instantaneous searches using an index that is constantly updated as files are added or modified on your system. Ideal For: Users who prioritize speed and simplicity in file searching.

Overview: FileSearchEX offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface reminiscent of older Windows search functionalities, but with modern enhancements. It seeks to improve the search capabilities of Windows by offering a more organized and diverse searching experience. Ideal For: Users comfortable with traditional Windows interfaces who require enhanced search capabilities. Windows Search is an advanced desktop search software that seamlessly connects users to their files, apps, and settings across devices and cloud services. Accessible via the taskbar, it offers personalized results from OneDrive, Outlook, and more, while utilizing Bing technology for web searches. Privacy features like SafeSearch ensure a secure browsing experience, allowing users to manage search history and settings effortlessly.

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