Why can I no longer search file contents on Onedrive?

Anonymous

Once upon a time, the Onedrive search feature allowed you to search file contents, as well as file names.

Now it appears that Onedrive only allows you to search file names.

When did this change, and why? Content searches were a very practical feature.

Microsoft will lose users to better services (such as Google Drive) if it continues to make regressive changes like this. Being able to search file contents is a very low bar in 2024.

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

49 answers

Anonymous

2024-12-04T23:06:54+00:00

At the beginning of December and it still doesn't work :(
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2024-11-21T09:06:25+00:00

Same here, I would like to search files in browser and in OneDrive iOS app. None are working currently. There are plenty of scenarios when I can't (or don't want) synchronizing all files to local machine.

The missing feature is essential, competitors (like Google Drive) have that perfectly working.
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2024-11-21T01:46:34+00:00

We are not using Onedrive in that manner. We are using it through a browser.
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Craig Long 18,635 Reputation points

2024-11-21T00:41:23+00:00

To search files locally you need to have Search Indexing running on your computer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rFNHiaB85s
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2024-11-20T21:03:46+00:00

Same here. November 20th and still unable to search within files.
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments