Guide: Enabling searching within files in Windows

Windows 11

1.  Click the three dots in File Explorer

2. Click Options

 

3. Click the Search tab

4. Enable “Don’t use the index when searching in file folders for system files”

5. Enable “Include system directories”, “Include compressed files”, and “Always search file names and contents”

 

Please keep in mind that Windows will need some time to index the contents of your files. After the indexing, you'll be able to perform a text search in multiple PDF files.

Windows 10

Option 1: Within the menu ribbon of File Explorer:

 

Option 2: Or through the File Explorer menus:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder that you want to search.

2. Click on the View menu, and at the right end of the menu, click "Options."

 

3. In the "Folder options" pop-up window, click on the tab "Search" and check “Don’t use the index when searching in file folders for system files” and “Include system directories”, “Include compressed files”, and “Always search file names and contents”

Click "OK.”

 

4. Type your search terms in the "Search" field and press "Enter."

 

Please keep in mind that Windows will need some time to index the contents of your files. After the indexing, you'll be able to perform a text search in multiple PDF files.