PDF Indexing is working on Windows 11 (even with the standard PDF indexer), however, you can only search for file contents via File Explorer and not via Search / Taskbar Search.
Windows 11 Windows Search not searching or Indexing PDFs
Brand new Dell XPS laptop with Windows 11. It will not search text within PDF files. From looking on the internet seems like there are lots of problems Windows Search in Windows 11 which did not exist in Windows 10. Including not searching/indexing contents of PDF files, which is critical for me.
Has ANYONE been able to search within PDF files on Windows 11?
Please don't suggest re-indexing, have done 6 or 7 times. And, yes indexing settings are set to index contents of PDF files.
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage
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Anonymous
2022-07-30T20:12:12+00:00 I figured it out from this web page:
How to Search for Text Inside Multiple PDF Files at Once . . . online tech tips com
. . . [I see here that it is possible to search the contents within your PDFs, it just has to be done through the Foxit Phantom program (or Adobe), and not Windows File Explorer]
. . . Performing a PDF Search Using Foxit Reader
. . . Click on the Search icon next to the Search box in the top-right. It opens Advanced Search options.
. . . [select drive and folder] Where would you like to search?
. . . [enter] What word or phrase would you like to search for?
. . . [check] Patterns - Select other criteria as desired
Another web page said that File Explorer is unable to search the contents of PDFs - but if it was able to before, maybe they changed it?
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Anonymous
2022-07-19T17:59:39+00:00 Thanks, My PC upgraded to 21H2 (Build 22000.795), and now I'm able to search content again! Regards ... Javier
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Anonymous
2022-07-19T17:42:25+00:00 I am on Windows 11 version 21H2 (Build 22000.795) and it looks like I *AM* now able to search for specific content *WITHIN* a PDF file!
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Anonymous
2022-06-30T21:51:11+00:00 I'm having the same problem and have been running Windows 11 for a couple of months. It was only after some recent windows update that search broke and can no longer search word or pdf file content.