How to search for files with the same extension in Windows 11

If you work with dozens of documents, photos, and videos, mastering Windows 11 search isn't optional: it's essential. In the following lines, you'll see how to locate files by extension , filter by date, size, or type , and even how to combine operators for precise searches that save you time every day.

We're going to go beyond simply typing a name into the search box. You'll learn how to use advanced Explorer commands , taskbar shortcuts, wildcards like * , and filters like ext:, as well as how to troubleshoot indexing issues when nothing appears. We'll even explore third-party alternatives, cloud search, and what Microsoft is bringing to the table with AI for finding everything.

Search by extension in Windows 11 directly

When you need to identify all files of a specific type in a folder (and its subfolders), the fastest way is to use File Explorer itself. Navigate to the target location (for example, This PC for a global search) and use two simple and effective tactics.

The first method involves using wildcards. Type something like *.jpg in the search box at the top to list all JPG images in the current directory and its subfolders. Similarly, you can search for *.pdf , *.docx , or any other extension you're interested in.

The second option is the file extension filter. If you're comfortable with Windows Search syntax, you'll love typing ext:jpg (without the period) to get results for that extension. This approach works just as well with ext:png , ext:mp4 , ext:xlsx , and so on.

Need more than one? You can combine terms: `ext:jpg OR ext:png` will display images in both formats. If you want the name to also contain text, add the term, for example: `ext:pdf budget` , to quickly reduce the number of matches.

If you're searching by extent in a specific area, first define the workspace in the left panel (a project folder, a disk, or "This PC") and then run the query. This ensures you don't crawl unnecessary paths that only add noise.

Advanced Operators and Filters in Explorer

The File Explorer search function is much more powerful than it seems. It supports Boolean operators for maximum refinement, just like in Gmail or Google , but with syntax adapted to Windows.

Essential Boolean operators you can mix in your queries:

• NOT or the minus symbol to exclude words. E.g.: dog NOT cat o dog - cat avoid results with "cat".
• OR for "this or that". E.g.: invoice OR receipt returns files containing either of the two terms.
• Comillas to search for an exact phrase. E.g.: «final budget» respect that order.
• Parenthesis to group words regardless of order. E.g.: (cat dog) finds "dog cat" and "cat dog" interchangeably.

General filters by properties, always in the format property:value :

• date: by time of creation or modification. Supports us, yesterday, this week, this month, this year, last year, specific dates or ranges such as fecha:01/01/2024..15/04/2024.
• modified: Filter only by modification date. E.g.: modified: "last week".
• created: limited by creation date. E.g.: created: "this month".
• size: use categories (emptiness, tiny, little, medium, great, huge, gigantic) or comparators. E.g.: size:>10MB all with large files.
• class: delimited by functional type: image, Valid identity document, mail, The music, video, etc. E.g.: class:image.
• out: sets a specific extension. E.g.: ext:jpg, ext:pdf.
• binder: restricts the search to a folder name. E.g.: folder:Proposals to hurry within that route.
• archive: Forces to search by file name only. E.g.: file:final_presentation.

Specific filters by file type for fine-tuning:

• Slideshow: slides:20 returns presentations with that number of slides.
• Comment: comment:to review locate documents of Word with that comment.
• Music: artist:»Name», album:»Name», genre: Rock, track:13.
• Duration: It works on songs and videos. E.g.: duration: medium o duration:>5 minutes.
• Year: useful in music and film. E.g.: year: 1990.
• Images: orientation: horizontal, width:1920, height:1080 for exact measurements.

A key advantage is that you can chain multiple filters together seamlessly. For example: `class:document modified:yesterday NOT draft` returns documents modified yesterday and excludes those marked as draft, all in a single query.

After launching the search, in Windows 11 you'll see the Search Options button in the toolbar. From there you can choose whether to search within the content (very useful for locating text within files ), in subfolders, or even include compressed files in the search.

Search from the taskbar and shortcuts that speed up

If you want to get straight to the point, use the search box in the taskbar. Type your query, and if you press Enter, the first result will open under Best Match . This search is ideal for quickly opening a frequently used file or app and lets you filter by Apps , Documents , Settings , or Folders with a single click.

The quickest way to access it is to open the search bar with Windows + S or by pressing the Windows key and starting to type. Even if you hide the search box in the taskbar via Settings, these shortcuts allow you to launch a search instantly , even with the minimalist interface.

This tool also learns from your usage. If you open a file frequently , it will appear among the top results with higher priority. It's a "smart" search that, without operators, usually gives you exactly what you need.

Always show file extensions in Windows 11

If you work with file extensions, it's best to prevent Windows from hiding them. Go to File Explorer, then View > Display , and open Options (or simply "Folder Options"). On the View tab , uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types" and apply the changes so that everything displays its .pdf, .jpg, .zip, etc.

If you want this to apply to all folders, click Apply to Folders in the same window. From then on, you'll see the extension on your desktop, in Quick Access, and in any location you use daily.

Syntax tricks: wildcards, ranges, and names

Wildcards are gold. With `soft*` you'll find files whose name begins with "soft", and with `*soft*` you'll find those containing it anywhere. For extensions, remember the classic `*.gif` or combine it with text: `*.pdf contract` to filter by both name and type.

You can also search by range using a colon: date:01/01/2024..15/04/2024 limits the search to the interval. For size, the comparators are straightforward: size:>700MB or size:<1MB filter by actual size, perfect for cleaning up or identifying large attachments.

To search by name, try file:budget_april or name:invoice_2024 if your system recognizes it, and if you want to focus on a specific folder, use folder:Projects . With these shortcuts, complex searches become a matter of seconds.

When nothing appears: indexing, repairing and improving

If you still can't find anything after several attempts, the Windows index may be corrupted. Open "Indexing Options" from the system search, go to Advanced options , and click Rebuild . This process recreates the catalog of locations and names so that the search engine responds instantly again.

To improve search coverage, in Windows 11 go to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Search and enable Enhanced mode . This allows the indexer to crawl more folders and files, and you can exclude sensitive directories (backups, large repositories) to avoid clutter and save resources.

Find large files and clean temporary files safely

If your goal is to free up space, first use the size filter in File Explorer: select the drive or folder, type size:>100MB , and sort by size to identify the culprits. You can also use the predefined categories (Empty, Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, or Gigantic) from the search options for a quick filter.

Once you've located the large files, consider moving them to external storage or the cloud. At the same time, delete temporary system files. Go to Settings > System > Storage and use " Storage Sense " or "Temporary Files" to safely delete caches, update remnants, and other unnecessary data that Windows automatically detects.

Don't forget the cloud search engine

If your work is primarily online, searching on Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox is incredibly effective. Drive, for example, lets you locate content within documents with remarkable speed; if you install its desktop app, you can access the search function with Ctrl + Alt + G and find your files instantly without opening your browser.

The same principles apply here: mix keywords , filter by type (document, spreadsheet, presentation), and use the service's built-in operators for immediate results. When working between local and cloud environments, having both search engines under control is synonymous with real productivity.

AI comes to search in Windows 11

Microsoft is rolling out natural language features to Explorer search. The idea: you can type a query like "BBQ party" and the system will understand what you're looking for, reviewing metadata and content to return related documents, images, or videos, even if the file name doesn't exactly match the phrase.

This path aligns with the company's commitment to responsible AI and to strengthening privacy and security in the use of these systems. As these features become available, you'll be able to combine natural language processing with traditional filters to maintain complete control over your results.

One last practical tip: if File Explorer opens to "Home" (formerly Quick access) by default, you'll gain speed when accessing recent files and favorites. However, for bulk searches, you can switch to "This PC" by going to View more > Options > Open File Explorer in , and choosing the landing page that best suits your workflow.

The key to finding files in Windows 11 is knowing where to look (taskbar, Explorer, cloud), how to formulate your query (using operators, filters, and wildcards), and having a well-optimized system (visible file extensions, rebuilt indexing when necessary). With these tools, an external resource when needed, and learning to organize files by tags , you'll be able to locate anything from a simple .jpg to a PDF hidden among thousands of files in seconds.