But with a few tips and tricks, you’re free to make it a breeze.

Here’s how to enhance the way you use Windows Search.

By default, when you key in your search query, Windows Search will display results from all categories.

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Alternatively, you might throw in the category, followed by a colon, and then the search query.

This includes the time, weather, definitions, random statistics, or currency conversions.

This will allow Search to include results from services like Bing, OneDrive, Outlook, and SharePoint.

The categories of Windows Search.

You’ll need to use Windows with your Microsoft account for this to work.

Then, click “Turn On Cloud Search for Your Microsoft Account.”

In the “Cloud Content Search” section, turn on the “Microsoft Account” toggle.

Checking the weather in California on using Windows Search.

To expand this to include your entire PC, you might enable enhanced search.

That means it will catalog everything, including file names, properties, and types, for easy referencing.

So if you’re using a laptop, verify it’s plugged in.

Checking the definition of a word in Windows Search.

To enable enhanced search, press Win + i and head to Privacy & Security > Searching Windows.

In the Find My Files section, go for the “Enhanced” radio button to enable enhanced search.

Below, you’ll see a section called Exclude Folders From Enhanced Search.

Turning on cloud search in Windows Search.

That means Search will look in every folder on your PC except for the excluded ones.

To add a folder, click “Add an Excluded Folder.”

Then, snag the folder you want to exclude from the enhanced search.

Turning on cloud search for Microsoft account on Windows 11.

Remember, the more folders you add, the slower your search will be, and vice versa.

To do that, click “Search” in the Taskbar, and typeindexinto the Search box.

Click “Indexing Options” in the search results to kick off the Indexing Options window.

Turning on enhanced search.

tap the “Advanced” button.

grab the “File Types” tab.

Back in the Indexing Options window, click “Modify.”

Adding an excluded folder on Windows 11.

In the top section, tick the folders you want to index.

Click “OK” and wait for your box to finish indexing the folders you’ve ticked.

It can also become corrupted, leading to incorrect results.

Removing an excluded folder on Windows 11.

you’re free to fix that by rebuilding it.

Next, poke the “Advanced” button to pop launch the Advanced Indexing Options window.

Then, click “Rebuild” in the Troubleshooting section of the Index controls tab.

The “Indexing Options” result in Windows Search.

Click “OK” on the prompt telling you that indexing might take a long time.

Now, wait for the process to finish.

Searching quickly on Windows 11can help you be more productive.

The “Advanced” button in Indexing Options on Windows.

Furthermore, they will make using it more enjoyable.

Adding a file type in Advanced Indexing Options on Windows.

Ticking folders in Indexing Options on Windows.

Rebuidling the index on Windows 11.