Trying to exclude folders in bookmark search – wrong results

[Native2904]

Based on a small idea beginning, I tried to create a bookmark that should work in combination with a filter.

With this bookmark I want to achieve that I can see all my pictures in my %UserProfile%, but exclude folders such as "AppData" and possibly others...(excluding directories only for this >specific< Bookmark)
At first it seemed so simple and logical (with the help of the search syntax), but somehow it’s turned into quite a tricky business...

!\appdata Search for files and folders NOT in a appdata folder.
c:\windows\ Search for files and folders in C:\Windows.

I set in the Bookmark custom search "box" the following: C:\Users\Home !\appdata and the Filter to image:

2026-03-13_231324.png (1.93 KiB) Viewed 1762 times

2026-03-13_234329.png (10.71 KiB) Viewed 1762 times

However, all images from the entire C: drive are displayed.

I feel like I’ve lost track of what I’m doing and each step seems to take me further in the wrong direction...too far to turn back.

What am I doing wrong?
Is my plan not possible?
Or do filters override the settings defined in bookmarks?

[void]

Remove the new lines from the end of your bookmark search.

Please make sure the bookmark search is only one line.

image.png (5.53 KiB) Viewed 1759 times

image.png (18.34 KiB) Viewed 1759 times

The bookmark searches should look like:

image.png (3.7 KiB) Viewed 1755 times

image.png (10.05 KiB) Viewed 1755 times

Are you copying your searches from a text editor and pasting into the Everything bookmark search?

[Native2904]

Are you copying your searches from a text editor and pasting into the Everything bookmark search?

No, but if I don’t add a new line with Alt+Enter, the last search term (e.g. !c:\windows) stays in the search field when I run the bookmark.
I will try your suggestion with the oneliner tomorrow!

[void]

the last search term (e.g. !c:\windows) stays in the search field when I run the bookmark.

That is the expected behavior.



Please try a filter instead:

• In Everything, from the Search menu, click Add to filters....
• Change the Name to:
  My Pictures
• Change the Search to:
  C:\Users\Home !\appdata !c:\windows\ !"c:\program files"
• Click OK.

Filters can be activated from the Search menu, Filter bar (View -> Filter Bar), Filter sidebar (View -> Filters), right clicking the status bar, filter macro or filter keyboard shortcut.
Filters can be organized from Search menu -> Organize filters.

Filters do not change the search box.



Just making a small note here: !c:\windows\ !"c:\program files" are not going to do anything in your search because they are already excluded with C:\Users\Home

[Native2904]

Just making a small note here: !c:\windows\ !"c:\program files" are not going to do anything in your search because they are already excluded with C:\Users\Home

Yes, of course.Those folders were only meant to be excluded because it wasn't working as I had approached it the wrong way.

But anyway, I clearly did something wrong...
a bit like the Dunning–Kruger effect — I thought I had understood it, but in reality I was far from it.

I still don’t quite understand the Symbiosis between filters and bookmarks.

Thank you for your help.

[void]

Filters
You can have one active filter at a time.
Filters do not change any search settings in the UI.
Use a filter when you want to combine a search with another search.
For example: filter folders only and set the main search box to: "Program Files"



Bookmarks
Bookmarks can be opened and will change your UI search settings.
Use a bookmark when you want to restore a previous search.
You can still combine searches, you'll just need to add to the existing search.
Can also be useful if you want to make minor adjustments to the search.
For example, restore a search for: c:\users\ \temp\ ext:tmp;exe

[void]

Everything 1.5.0.1408a will now merge multiple search lines into one.

/ search commands will continue to break the search into multiple searches.

[Native2904]

Thanks for the clarification!