Everything: The best alternative for searching for files in Windows

Search for files in Windows It can become a tedious task if you rely solely on the operating system's tools. Many users agree that the Windows search function leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to speed and accuracy. Fortunately, there are much more efficient alternatives, such as Everything, a free, lightweight, and extremely fast tool that has earned a well-deserved reputation among those who need complete control over the files and folders on their system.

Everything is a solution developed by Voidtools, which stands out for its speed when indexing and displaying instant results. Throughout this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about this fantastic tool: how it works, its main features, why it's better than Windows Search, and how to get the most out of it, whether you're a beginner or already have some experience.

What is Everything?

Everything is a free program for Windows that allows you to quickly search for files and folders on any computer drive. storage from the local system. Unlike the native Windows search engine, which can take a long time and doesn't always provide effective results, Everything uses a lightweight, real-time database to display any file almost immediately.

One of its main advantages is that indexes only the names of files and folders, allowing it to offer instant results without consuming too many resources. Plus, its minimalist interface makes it easy for anyone to use without any technical knowledge. If you'd like to learn more about how to search for files in Windows, you can check out this article.

Main features of Everything

• Instant search: displays results instantly as you type the file name.
• Simple and accessible interface: Clean design that allows intuitive use, without complex menus or advanced settings.
• Minimum resource consumption: very light, it hardly consumes RAM or CPU, even if we leave it running in the background.
• Real time update: automatically detects when a file is added or deleted.
• Network Drive Support: It is possible to add network directories to search them just as if they were local.

Speed ​​and efficiency: what really sets Everything apart

What stands out most about Everything is the speed of your searchesThe program begins indexing the system immediately once it is run with administrator permissions. It quickly generates a database of all files and folders, allowing it to offer a near-real-time search experience.

The system updates automatically, so no need to manually reboot or refresh the database when a file is created, modified, or deleted. Each change is reflected almost instantly in the Everything interface, which greatly improves the user experience compared to other similar tools. If you need to find saved images, you can also consult this guide.

Advanced search by specific types and filters

Everything doesn't just display a list of files. It also incorporates a system of filters according to file type What you're looking for. From the "Search" menu, you can select whether you want to search for audio files, images, documents, folders, executables, or compressed files, for example.

In addition, it has an advanced search that allows use specific parameters such as size, extension, modification date and more. Even with just a part of the file name, Everything is able to locate what you're looking for with tremendous precision. If you need information on the process of deleting unnecessary files, you can take a look at this resource.

Clear and uncomplicated interface

One of the strengths of this tool is its design with simplicity in mind. When you open Everything, you'll see a single window with a search box at the top and a list of results that updates as you type. You don't need to navigate through complicated menus or perform complex configurations.

The interface also allows sort the results based on several criteria: by name, extension, location, size, or modification date. The latter is especially useful if you're looking for the most recent file among hundreds or even thousands. To learn how to manage your files more efficiently, consider using a suitable file manager, as mentioned in this article.

Can Everything search within file content?

One of the limitations of Everything is that does not index the internal content of files by default, but only works with their names. However, it is possible to search within files, although this significantly slows down the process since it is not based on indexing as in the case of names.

For those who need to perform textual searches within documents, this feature may be an occasional solution, but it is not the program's primary focus. In these cases, it may be better to complement it with other specific content search tools. If you are interested in delving deeper into the topic of file extensions, you can visit this link.

Network drives and custom directories

Everything also allows you to add other locations on the system or local networksIf you have files on shared network drives, you can easily index them from the Tools > Options > Folders menu, then add the corresponding network path.

This makes Everything a solution ideal for business or home environments with multiple networked computers, as it allows you to locate files in different locations as if they were a single drive. If you're looking to find out where your downloaded files are on your computer, don't hesitate to consult this article.

Portability and compatibility

Everything can be used as an installed app or a portable version. The portable edition does not require installation and is ideal to carry in a USB and use it on different computers without altering their configuration.

It is available for both 32 and 64 bit architectures, and is frequently updated from its official website, where it is even possible to download previous versions if you prefer a particular one.

System requirements and necessary permissions

To function properly, Everything needs run with administrator privilegesThis is because it accesses all system drives to perform the full indexing process. Without this permission, some functions may be limited.

Despite this requirement, the program does not represent a risk for system stability and maintains optimal performance even when active in the background.

Is Everything really free?

Yes, Everything it's completely freeThe developer accepts voluntary donations for the maintenance and development of the program, but all its features are available free of charge to any user.

This makes it an accessible tool for all types of users, from professionals to individuals simply looking for a faster and more efficient way to locate files.

Comparison: Everything vs Windows Search

Feature	Everything	windows finder
Speed	Snapshot (indexing in seconds)	Slow and variable
Consumption of resources	Minimum	You can slow down the system
Interface	Simple and uncomplicated	Complex and not always intuitive
Network search	Yes, can be added manually.	Limited
Advanced search	Filters by type, date, size	Limited or less accessible

If you're tired of waiting for Windows Search to find what you need, or if you work with files in different locations every day, Everything can save you a huge amount of time. Its speed, minimalism and efficiency make it an ideal choice for those who require a concrete, fast and customizable solution without complicating their lives.