Instant file search in Windows with advanced filters in Everything

When the standard Windows search falls short, Everything bursts onto the scene as an ultra-fast local search engine It's capable of instantly locating files and folders on your PC. Its approach is straightforward: type, see results, and open, without waiting or distractions.

Throughout this guide you will find a complete explanation of how it works, what advanced filters and operators you can use, what makes it stand out from other options, how to install and configure it, and what to do if something doesn't go as expected. In addition, you'll see useful alternatives and Productivity tips to save time In your day to day.

What is Everything and why is it so fast?

Everything is a desktop search engine for Windows that locates files and folders by name immediatelyUnlike the built-in Windows search engine, which can be heavier, Everything creates a lightweight index and keeps it updated in real time.

The key is that indexes only file and folder names (not the content), which minimizes the initial work and allows for instant responses when typing. With a clean installation of Windows 10 (around 120.000 files), the index is generated in approximately 1 second; on systems with around 1.000.000 files, The creation of the index takes around a minute.

Performance doesn't sacrifice resources: with a million elements, Everything typically uses around 75 MB of RAM and about 45 MB of disk spaceEven on modest or multitasking devices, its impact is very low, remaining discreet in the background.

In addition, the results window is updated instantly when creating, renaming or deleting files, thanks to constant monitoring of file system changesThis avoids costly rebuilds and provides a consistently up-to-date search experience.

How it indexes, what it limits, and how to search for content

To achieve that speed, Everything focuses on the file and folder name. It does not index the internal content of documents by default, which would be much heavier and slower. However, when you need it, you can use the content search function with the modifier content:.

It is important to be clear that search with content: will be slower You have to search by name, since the content isn't pre-indexed. It's useful for locating code snippets, keywords in texts, or notes—just what you need when you remember the content but not the file name.

Another crucial advantage is that Everything doesn't collect personal data or add advertising. It's free, clean, malware, spyware or adware, and accepts donations for development. Privacy, simplicity, and speed, all in one tool.

In the limits section, its focus on file names means that If your flow requires complex content searches On a regular basis, you may need to combine it with other utilities or use specific filters when appropriate, accepting that they will take longer.

Requirements, compatibility and integration with Windows

Everything works in Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 and 11, with highly polished integration. Its indexing capabilities are designed to operate in real time, so the results "breathe" with your system: what changes on disk is instantly reflected in the interface.

To get the most out of indexing NTFS, there are two paths: run Everything as administrator or install the Everything Service and run the app as a standard user. This second option avoids the UAC prompt and maintains low-level access to NTFS volumes.

The application can also index network locations or specific foldersIf you have shared drives or directories outside of NTFS, you can add them from the Indexes/Folders settings to include them in the results.

Another key feature is that Everything It persists the changes even if you close itYou can shut down your PC or restart the app without losing sync with the system; when it starts, it automatically updates what's needed.

Advanced search operators and filters

The magic of Everything is multiplied by its search syntax. By default, the default Boolean operator is AND, that is, if you write two terms, it will search for results that contain both.

For alternatives, use the vertical bar as OR: For example, .jpg | .bmp will return files with any of those extensions. If you want to exclude something, add ! in front of: !backup will remove matches with that word.

Wildcards are super handy: * matches any sequence (e.g., e*g find names that begin with "e" and end with "g"), and ? matches a single character (e.g., *.?? for two-letter extensions).

To search for file types, enter the extension: *.mp3, *.html, etc. If you want several, separate them with |, for example *.bmp|*.jpg. It's a very quick way to filter by format.

If you need to locate within a specific folder, include the path or part of it: descargas\ *.mp3 or a complete route like C:\\Proyectos\\*.jsYou can also enable the "Match Location" option and type the folder name next to the search term.

For terms with spaces, enclose them in quotation marks, for example «final report». And when it's time, use it content:palabra to search within the files knowing that it will take longer since it is not pre-indexed.

Installation and first steps

Installing Everything is a piece of cake. It's recommended to get it from the official Voidtools website. avoid unreliable or junk buildsYou can choose between the installer or portable version.

With the installer, follow the wizard and if you don't want the UAC prompt at startup, Enable "Everything Service" and disable "Run as administrator" in Tools > Options > General. Close and reopen to apply changes.

If you prefer a portable device, download the ZIP, unzip it, and run the app. The portable version is ideal for carrying in a USB or use it occasionally without taking up space on the system disk.

When you open Everything for the first time, you'll see the list fill up in seconds. Start typing and watch the instant updateIf you don't get what you expected, check the active filter: use "All files and folders" to avoid unintentional restrictions.

Troubleshooting and key adjustments

To check NTFS volumes: go to Tools > Options > NTFS and check "Add to database", "Monitor changes", and "Enable USN Journal upload". Also, turn on "Auto-include new fixed volumes" so Everything detects them automatically.

If duplicate results appear, check in Tools > Options > Folders that you have not also added as a folder an already indexed NTFS volume. Delete it from that section to avoid duplicating the index.

Can't find what you're looking for? Check the Search menu to make sure you don't have Match letter, Match whole word, Match location, Match diacritics o regex activated unintentionally, because they narrow the circle of results.

If the settings are not saved, activate «Save settings and data to %APPDATA%\\Everything» from Tools > Options > General. This ensures that your preferences persist between sessions.

When the index becomes corrupted, outdated, or you want to force its re-creation, go to Tools > Options > Indexes and press "Force reconstruction"It's a miracle cure for getting back to normal.

To convert a drive to NTFS (recommended for best Everything performance), back it up first and keep in mind that There is no going back to FAT/FAT32 without forma tear. Open Run, type cmd, and in the console: convert D: /fs:ntfs (replace D: with your drive). Some devices may not read NTFS volumes.

If you want to index network locations, add them as indexed folders in Tools > Options > FoldersIt's perfect for NAS or shared routes you want to have handy for your searches.

Relevant changes and improvements

In recent versions, Everything has added expanded language support and full compatibility with Unicode, improving the display of names with special characters.

They have also been introduced interface settings and various fixes that refine the experience and polish performance details. In the 1.4 branch, sizes and dates were added for faster sorting, at the cost of a slight increase in memory that you can optimize if you need to.

Practical comparison: Windows and the best alternatives

Windows offers several search paths, including classic search and enhanced search. From the Start menu you can locate applications, folders and documents with system indexing and quick filters (programs, documents, photos, etc.). It's convenient, although sometimes it doesn't cover everything.

File Explorer includes a search field in the top right corner, and after launching a query, "Advanced Options" appear to filter by type and format. This is often sufficient, but at high volumes it feels slower.

Among the latests Moravia's compositions third party apps, SearchMyFiles (NirSoft) is a Swiss Army knife: Search by creation date, attributes, size, content, and duplicatesThe interface is basic, but the speed and depth of the filters more than make up for it.

WizFile is another long-distance runner: scans the MFT of the drives for high-speed indexing and allows you to sort by date, size, or name, as well as supporting networks and external drives. You can install it or take it portable.

Listary combines a launcher with instant search. It is invoked by double-clicking the left CTRL and works in any window. It's customizable, pretty, and very fast for jumping between files and apps.

If you want to boost Windows, power toys incorporates "Run", a universal search engine that opens with a shortcut. It was originally designed to run programs, but today it can search for documents, configure which results to display, and rely on Windows Search. Activate the corresponding option after installing PowerToys.

As an extra, if you are looking for more advanced managers, Explorer++ and MultiCommander They provide tabbed browsing, dual-pane, and plugin featuresThey're no substitute for Everything in terms of pure search speed, but they complement file management very well.

Productivity tips to go full throttle

Set a global shortcut to open Everything without a mouse. Access in milliseconds is the difference between interrupting the flow or keeping it alive.

Save your frequently asked questions as favorites or create custom filters by file type (images, documents, source code, etc.). So, just one click is enough to activate the context you're interested in.

If you work with large projects, add their root folders to the index (if they are not in NTFS) and use route searches to trim the scope: C:\\Proyectos\\*.js or the folder name with “Match Location”.

Combine operators: *.png | *.jpg !miniatura to exclude previews, or content:TODO *.md to locate tasks in Markdown notes when you tap inspect content.

When content performance matters to you, narrow the scope: search in the project folder instead of the entire PC, and reduces the number of calls. You'll save seconds, which, over the course of the day, turn into minutes.

Real limitations and when to combine tools

Everything shines with name searches and light filtering, but It is not intended to be an advanced file manager or a full content indexer.For mass text audits, you may prefer a specialized content tool.

If your flow includes complex management actions, combines Everything with a powerful browser (dual pane, bulk renaming, plugins). And if you're into super-expressive queries, consider adding utilities with on-demand content indexing.

On computers with millions of files, you'll find that Everything is still very sluggish; if you notice any slowness, Check exclusions, active filters, and index status, or force reconstruction. Normally, it will fly again.

Security, privacy and usage model

Everything is free software and ad-free, with the option to donate if you find it useful. It doesn't include malware, spyware, or adware, which has earned it the trust of the community.

Its design avoids collecting personal data. Your index stays on your computer, and you decide which drives or folders to include. A simple, transparent proposal focused on what matters.

Finally, it's worth remembering that there are enthusiastic claims online about indexing "millions of files in seconds." Official figures speak of ~1 second for 120.000 files and ~1 minute for 1.000.000, which is already spectacular. Your actual experience will depend on the hardware, the type of drive and the system load.

An agile workflow starts with finding what you're looking for without losing your way. With Everything, write and see results instantly It's no longer a wish but a routine. Between its speed, advanced filters, low power consumption, and easy setup, it's the perfect Swiss Army knife for always having your files just a click away.