How to Search in Windows 7 for text within a document?

Anonymous
2010-06-28T02:30:00+00:00

How do you search for a document by using searching specific text in the document? (Word or other searchable doc.) Other forum answers suggest that this will happen with the general search box that appears in the upper right corner of explorer - but this does not seem to be the case.

I have searched for known words, and documents do not come up.

Is there a default? Is there a way turn on the search within document? (formerly, the detailed search option for any folder would prompt you to select 'search within document.')

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-07-06T20:15:26+00:00

Try just typing the phrase into the search box. If this doesn’t work, try content: “words in phrase”

Lisa

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

57 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-12T20:37:58+00:00

    Trent,

    To view the Tools menu if you don't routinely have it visible*,

    either

    press alt-t

    or

    go straight through to the folder options by clicking on Organize, Folder & search options

    [* to set this press alt-t, Folder options, View tab - set Always show menus.]

    Please note that the default setting is for Windows search to include contents for indexed locations anyway - altering this setting just expands that to include all locations so would only be useful if you wanted to, for example, search the contents of files that are outside your documents folders & outside any Libraries.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-12T20:35:09+00:00

    Excellent. 

    It is not easily found since there is no explorer in 7, but I put "folder options" in the search bar on the "Start" function, and it took me to the folder options.  Then, all was as you described.  Thank you much.

    Jacek

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-12T20:21:48+00:00

    Nice joke since there is no "Tools" option in file explorer windows.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-12T19:58:21+00:00

    In an explorer window click Tools > Folder Options > {Search tab} > select the always search fine names and contents (...) radio button. Click ok.

    This should make it so you can simply type what you want in the search box and have it search for names within documents. Not sure why MS decided to hide this when it was so simple before.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments