Why I Switched from Windows Search to This Amazing Free Alternative

Windows users often share a common frustration: the default search functionality can be less than satisfactory. Fortunately, you don’t have to rely on it. The free application Everything transforms file searching into a swift and effortless task.

Everything Delivers Instant Results

When hunting for a specific file or folder, speed is crucial. Unfortunately, Windows search frequently disappoints, at times causing File Explorer to freeze or lag significantly. Users often find themselves typing in file names only to await patiently, only to receive minimal or irrelevant results. This sluggishness can lead to frustration and many opt to sift through files manually instead.

In stark contrast, Everything revolutionizes this experience. The moment you begin typing, results populate instantaneously, rivaling the efficiency of Google searches, but performed locally on your machine. Even recently created or renamed files are easily discoverable.

Everything app on Windows — Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required

The brilliance of Everything lies in its indexing method. Unlike Windows search, which analyzes file contents, Everything solely indexes file names and folder structures, enhancing its speed and efficiency.

Intuitive Sorting and Robust Filtering

Locating files on your PC can be complicated, especially when you can recall only part of a file’s name or face a long list of similarly titled items. Fortunately, Everything simplifies this process.

When confronted with multiple results, instead of scrolling endlessly, navigate to View > Sort by to organize your results by name, type, size, creation date, modification date, and more. This flexibility helps streamline your search process dramatically.

Another useful feature is Everything’s ability to track your file access patterns. If you frequently select the same file after performing a search, it learns your habits and prioritizes that file in future search results.

If you’re still struggling to locate a specific file, utilize the Search > Advanced Search features. Here, you can refine your queries for faster results.

Advanced search in Everything app — Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required

Everything also includes advanced search functionalities similar to those found in File Explorer. For instance, entering report AND 2023 guarantees that both terms appear in your results, while invoice OR receipt allows you to display either option. Should you need to exclude certain terms, simply use NOT draft to filter out those unwanted results.

Upon finding the desired file or folder, a quick right-click offers an option to select Open Path, enabling you to view the file directly in File Explorer.

A Lightweight, Resource-Savvy Solution

One major drawback of the built-in Windows search is its demand for system resources. While you might not notice it immediately, the indexing process often runs continuously in the background, contributing to system sluggishness and increased fan activity. This could be why your computer feels slow even during light use.

On the other hand, Everything is remarkably lightweight and consumes minimal system resources, even when indexing hundreds of thousands of files across multiple drives. The initial index is completed in seconds after installation, and afterward, the application runs quietly in the background, requiring negligible memory.

By switching to Everything, I disabled Windows search indexing entirely, resulting in noticeable gains in my PC’s speed. Thus, the benefit is not solely about rapid searches; it significantly enhances overall system performance.

Windows 11 indexing settings — Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required

Effortlessly Integrating Everything into Your Workflow

For users who become reliant on Everything, quick access to the application becomes vital. Fortunately, you can easily pin Everything to your taskbar for seamless integration.

To set this up, download the Everything Toolbar from GitHub and run the installer. After installation, access Everything, and go to Tools > Options. In the General tab, enable both Show Search for Everything folder context menu item and Run as Administrator.

Then, locate the Everything Toolbar in your Start menu, right-click it, and select Pin to Taskbar for direct access at your fingertips. For a tidier look, you can also hide the default Windows search icon from the taskbar via Taskbar Settings.

Everything search on Windows 11 taskbar — Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required

If you’ve faced the trials of slow searches, Everything is the essential utility you’ve been missing. It has become indispensable for me, earning its place among my essential portable tools that I carry on my USB drive for instant access to reliable, fast search functionality on any PC.

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