The Windows search tool allows users to find applications, music, and settings, as well as perform web searches. Many users find it cluttered with Bing results, leading to a slow experience. To improve search functionality in Windows 11, users can employ several strategies:
1. PowerToys Run: A rapid system search tool activated by pressing Alt + Space, allowing customization for executing shell commands and adjusting settings.
2. Search by Category: Users can filter search results by categories such as Apps, Documents, Web, Settings, Folder, and Photos by clicking the category or typing the category name followed by a colon.
3. Tweak Indexing Options: Users can adjust indexing options to include specific folders and libraries, speeding up searches by ensuring relevant files are indexed.
4. Enable Cloud Content Search: This feature allows Windows search to pull results from OneDrive, Outlook, and SharePoint, which can be activated through the Windows search settings.
5. Filter Results Better: Within File Explorer, users can refine search results by using the "Search options" drop-down to filter by modification date, file type, or file size.
6. Disable Bing Search: Users can disable Bing search results by modifying the Registry Editor to create a new key and setting its value to disable search box suggestions.
7. Use Everything: A third-party tool that provides faster file and folder searches by focusing solely on file names and updating in real-time.