File explorer is reading text from photos when searching

Ia6676 40 Reputation points
2026-06-18T05:18:41.1233333+00:00

Does anyone have information on this function? I tested this by writing text into paint and saving it to the file to search, and it shows the file indication that the search function is visually searching for words. How do i stop this?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage
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Answer accepted by question author
DaveM121 934.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-06-18T05:54:08.97+00:00

This is a new function in Windows 11.

Open the Settings App.

Go to Privacy & Security - Search.

Expand the 'Find My Files' section

Switch the search function from Enhanced to Classic.

That will stop Windows File Explorer using OCR to search image files for text and also speed up the search function in Windows 11.

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  1. Senthil kumar 2,500 Reputation points
    2026-06-18T08:01:59.0233333+00:00

    Hi
    For general apply the below changes in your settings.

    searchfile_1

    if you want specific drive.

    searchfile_2

    Thanks.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-06-18T05:18:50.05+00:00

    Windows Search and the Photos app can index and search not only file names and properties, but also the text content inside supported files and images. On Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs, this is enhanced by semantic indexing, which can recognize and match visual content (including text rendered in images) to search terms.

    To reduce or stop this behavior, limit what Windows indexes and where it searches:

    1. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Search (or Searching Windows).
    2. Under Find my files, switch from Enhanced (indexes the entire PC) to Classic so only standard folders (Documents, Pictures, Music, Desktop) are indexed by default.
    3. Select Customize search locations (or Advanced indexing options) and remove folders that contain images you do not want indexed.
    4. In Advanced indexing options, adjust which file types are indexed if needed, so certain image types are not included.

    On Copilot+ PCs, semantic indexing is enabled by default and uses supported document and image formats (such as .jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .ico) to power richer search, including visually related results. Disabling indexing for specific locations or file types, as above, prevents those items from being semantically indexed and searched.

    Note that all semantic index data is stored locally on the device and is not sent to Microsoft or used to train AI models.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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