Advanced Search Functions

Advanced Search functions find files and folders by property values.

IN DEVELOPMENT
IN DEVELOPMENT
IN DEVELOPMENT


a-align

allocation-size:

Matches files with the specified allocation size in bytes.

The allocation-size property is the true size-on-disk value.

For example:
allocation-size:>1mb
allocation-size:65536
allocation-size:200mb..300mb

See also: size-on-disk:

alternate-data-stream-ansi:

Matches files with alternate data streams containing the specified text.
Alternate data streams are treated as ANSI text for matching.

Aliases: ads-ansi:

For example:
alternate-data-stream-ansi:abc
alternate-data-stream-ansi:"my text search"

alternate-data-stream-hex:

Matches files with alternate data streams containing the specified hex-encoded text.
Alternate data streams are converted to hex text for matching.

Aliases: ads-hex:

For example:
alternate-data-stream-hex:68656C6C6F
alternate-data-stream-hex:350300006500000031

alternate-data-stream-text-plain:

Matches files with alternate data streams containing the specified text.
Alternate data streams are treated as text/plain for matching.

Aliases: ads-text-plain:

For example:
alternate-data-stream-text-plain:abc
alternate-data-stream-text-plain:"my text search"

alternate-data-stream-utf16:

Matches files with alternate data streams containing the specified text.
Alternate data streams are treated as UTF-16 (Unicode) text for matching.

Aliases: ads-utf16:

For example:
alternate-data-stream-utf16:abc
alternate-data-stream-utf16:"my text search"

alternate-data-stream-utf16be:

Matches files with alternate data streams containing the specified text.
Alternate data streams are treated as UTF-16 BE (Big Endian Unicode) text for matching.

Aliases: ads-utf16be:

For example:
alternate-data-stream-utf16be:abc
alternate-data-stream-utf16be:"my text search"

alternate-data-stream-utf8:

Matches files with alternate data streams containing the specified text.
Alternate data streams are treated as UTF-8 text for matching.

Aliases: ads-utf8:

For example:
alternate-data-stream-utf8:abc
alternate-data-stream-utf8:"my text search"

ancestor-attributes:

Matches files and folders where an ancestor (parent or grandparent, or higher) includes all the specified attributes.

Attribute indexing is required.

The Hidden and System attributes are ignored for root volumes (eg: C:)

Aliases: ancestor-attr: ancestor-attrib: ancestor-attribute:

For example:
ancestor-attributes:HDI
!attrib:h ancestor-attributes:H = matches files/folders that are not hidden in a hidden folder
exact:ancestor-attributes:H = matches where the ancestor's attributes are exactly H

ancestor-child:

ancestor-child-file:

ancestor-child-folder:

Matches files and folders where an ancestor (parent or grandparent, or higher) has a child whose filename contains the specified text.

Use ancestor-child-file: to match files only.
Use ancestor-child-folder: to match folders only.

For example:
!whole:ancestor-child-file:.gitignore = exclude folders, subfolders and files with a .gitignore file

ancestor-filelist0:

ancestor-filelist1:

ancestor-filelist2:

ancestor-filelist3:

ancestor-filelist4:

ancestor-filelist5:

ancestor-filelist6:

ancestor-filelist7:

ancestor-filelist8:

ancestor-filelist9:

Matches files and folders that have an ancestor in a file list slot.

For example:
ancestor-filelist1:

ancestor-sibling:

ancestor-sibling-file:

ancestor-sibling-folder:

Matches files and folders where an ancestor (parent or grandparent, or higher) has a sibling whose filename contains the specified text.

The ancestor itself is not included in the search.
Use ancestor-sibling-file: to match sibling files only.
Use ancestor-sibling-folder: to match sibling folders only.

For example:
whole:ancestor-sibling:".gitignore"

See also: sibling:, parent-sibling:

ansi-content:

Matches files with content containing the specified text.
Content is treated as ANSI text for matching.

For example:
ansi-content:"my content"
ansi-content:abc


See also: content:



;attributes-dupe:
Matches files and folders that have the same attributes as other file or folder results.

For the best performance, enable attribute indexing.

Aliases: attr-dupe: attrib-dupe:

For example:
attributes-dupe:

author-url:

Search files with the specified author URL.

For example:
*.mp3 author-url:www.voidtools.com

no-background-search:

Allow or disallow background content searching.
When disabled, the search waits until all content results are found before returning results.
The default behavior is to search content in the background.

For example:
*.txt content:foo no-background-search:

binary-content:

Matches files with content containing the specified text.
Content is treated as a byte stream and searched for ASCII, ANSI, UTF-8, UTF-16LE, and UTF-16BE encodings.

Use binary:content: to treat the content and search as binary.

For example:
binary-content:"my content"
binary-content:abc

Searching content is slow.
Use with other filters for the best performance.

See also: content:

binary-type:

Matches executable files with the specified binary type.

Binary type can be one of the following:

• 32-bit Windows
• MS-DOS
• 16-bit Windows
• PIF
• POSIX
• 16-bit OS/2
• 64-bit Windows

For example:
*.exe binary-type:32-bit = matches 32-bit Windows
*.exe binary-type:"64-bit Windows" = matches binary types containing 64-bit Windows
*.exe whole:binary-type:MS-DOS = matches executable files where the entire binary type is MS-DOS

byte-order-mark:

Matches files with the specified byte order mark.

Byte order mark can be one of the following:

• ANSI
• UTF-8
• UTF-16 (BE)
• UTF-16 (LE)
• none

Aliases: bom:

For example:
*.txt bom:UTF-8
*.txt bom:"UTF-16 (LE)"
*.txt bom:none

bookmark:

Temporarily apply the specified bookmark by name.

Use a semicolon (;) to specify multiple bookmarks.

Parameters can be passed to a bookmark macro using a colon (:).

For example:
bookmark:"My Bookmark"
bookmark:"My Bookmark";"My Other Bookmark"
bookmark:"My Macro Bookmark":"my parameter"

camera-serial-number:

Matches photo files with the specified camera serial number.

For example:
*.jpg camera-serial-number:1234567890
*.jpg camera-serial-number:0001234
*.jpg camera-serial-number:S/N12345

case-sensitive-dir:

Matches folders with the FILE_CS_FLAG_CASE_SENSITIVE_DIR attribute enabled.
The FILE_CS_FLAG_CASE_SENSITIVE_DIR attribute determines if the file and subfolder names in this folder are treated as case-sensitive.

For example:
folder: case-sensitive-dir: is the same as folder: case-sensitive-dir:yes
folder: case-sensitive-dir:yes
folder: case-sensitive-dir:no

character-count:

Matches document files with the specified number of characters.
The number of characters is stored in the document metadata. This function does not read the file content.

For example:
*.docx character-count:200
*.docx character-count:300..500
*.docx character-count:>10000

char-range:

Matches files and folders whose filename contains a Unicode character in the specified range.

Ranges can be specified using hex values with a 0x prefix, character literals inside single quotes ('a'), or decimal values.
Use the whole: search modifier to match all characters in the filename.

For example:
char-range:0x1F600..0x1F64F = matches filenames containing characters in the Unicode Emoticons block
char-range:>0x7F = matches filenames containing non-ASCII characters
case:whole:char-range:'A'-'Z' = matches filenames consisting only of uppercase letters
char-range:'0'-'9' = matches filenames containing numeric digits

chars:

Matches files and folders whose filename contains the specified number of Unicode characters.

Unlike len: (which counts UTF-16 code units), chars: counts actual Unicode characters.

For example, a single emoji like 👍 consists of two UTF-16 code units:
len:2 matches 👍
chars:1 matches 👍

For example:
chars:10
chars:20..30
chars:>50

child-attributes:

child-file-attributes:

child-folder-attributes:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder with the specified attributes.

Requires attribute indexing.

Use child-file-attributes: to search child files only.
Use child-folder-attributes: to search child folders only.

Aliases: child-attr: child-file-attr: child-folder-attr: child-attrib: child-file-attrib: child-folder-attrib:

For example:
child-file-attributes:sh = matches folders containing system and hidden files
child-attributes:r = matches folders containing read-only files or folders

child-count-from-disk:

child-file-count-from-disk:

child-folder-count-from-disk:

Matches folders that contain the specified number of files and folders from disk.

Like child-count:, except Everything gathers the count from disk instead of the index.

Use child-file-count-from-disk: to count child files only.
Use child-folder-count-from-disk: to count child folders only.

Use child-count-from-disk:0 to check for folders that are empty on disk.
Use with empty: to quickly check for folders that are truly empty (only applies if you are excluding files or folders).
empty: and child-count: check the children count in the index (not on disk).

For example:
empty: child-count-from-disk:0
child-count-from-disk:>100

child-date-accessed:

child-file-date-accessed:

child-folder-date-accessed:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder with the specified date accessed.

Requires date accessed indexing.

Use child-file-date-accessed: to search child files only.
Use child-folder-date-accessed: to search child folders only.

Aliases: child-da: child-file-da: child-folder-da:

For example:
child-date-accessed:today
child-date-accessed:2026
child-date-accessed:2026-07-02

child-date-created:

child-file-date-created:

child-folder-date-created:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder with the specified date created.

Requires date created indexing.

Use child-file-date-created: to search child files only.
Use child-folder-date-created: to search child folders only.

Aliases: child-dc: child-file-dc: child-folder-dc:

For example:
child-date-created:today
child-date-created:2026
child-date-created:2026-07-02

child-date-modified:

child-file-date-modified:

child-folder-date-modified:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder with the specified date modified.

Requires date modified indexing.

Use child-file-date-modified: to search child files only.
Use child-folder-date-modified: to search child folders only.

Aliases: child-dm: child-file-dm: child-folder-dm:

For example:
child-date-modified:today
child-date-modified:2026
child-date-modified:2026-07-02

child-date-recently-changed:

child-file-date-recently-changed:

child-folder-date-recently-changed:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder with the specified recently changed date.

The recently changed date is updated whenever the item's entry in the Everything index is updated.

Requires recent change indexing to be enabled.

Use child-file-date-recently-changed: to search child files only.
Use child-folder-date-recently-changed: to search child folders only.

Aliases: child-rc: child-file-rc: child-folder-rc:

For example:
child-date-recently-changed:today
child-date-recently-changed:2026
child-date-recently-changed:2026-07-02

child-date-run:

child-file-date-run:

child-folder-date-run:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder with the specified date run.

The date run is the date and time an item was last opened from Everything.

Requires Run History to be enabled.

Use child-file-date-run: to search child files only.
Use child-folder-date-run: to search child folders only.

For example:
child-date-run:today
child-date-run:2026
child-date-run:2026-07-02

child-filelist:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder whose filename matches any item from the specified semicolon (;) delimited list of filenames.

The whole filename is matched.
Include a path separator (\) or (/) in the filename to match the full path.

For example:
child-filelist:a.txt
child-filelist:a.txt;b.txt;"c:\my folder\file.txt"

child-filelist0:

child-filelist1:

child-filelist2:

child-filelist3:

child-filelist4:

child-filelist5:

child-filelist6:

child-filelist7:

child-filelist8:

child-filelist9:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder in the specified file list slot.

For example:
child-filelist1:

child-occurrence-count:

Matches folders containing the specified number of matches from a child: search.

Use with child:

For example:
child:mp3 child-occurrence-count:>100
child-file:*.pdf child-occurrence-count:>1

child-run-count:

child-file-run-count:

child-folder-run-count:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder with the specified run count.

The run count is incremented by one when an item is opened from Everything.

Requires Run History to be enabled.

Use child-file-run-count: to search child files only.
Use child-folder-run-count: to search child folders only.

For example:
child-run-count: = matches folders containing items with a run count greater than 0
child-run-count:5
child-run-count:>10

child-size:

child-file-size:

child-folder-size:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder with the specified size.

Requires size indexing.

Use child-file-size: to search child files only.
Use child-folder-size: to search child folders only.

For example:
child-size:>1gb
child-size:100mb..200mb
child-file-size:1mb

clear-focus:

no-clear-focus:

Clear or keep the previous result list focus when searching.

The result list focus is kept between searches by default.

The default can be changed under Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> clear_focus_on_search

For example:
clear-focus: my new search

clear-selection:

no-clear-selection:

Clear or keep the result list selection when searching.

The result list selection is cleared between searches by default.

The default can be changed under Tools -> Options -> Results -> Clear selection on search.

For example:
no-clear-selection: my new search

compression:

Matches photo files with the specified compression type.

Compression type can be one of the following values:

• Uncompressed
• CCITT T.3
• CCITT T.4
• CCITT T.6
• LZW
• JPEG
• PackBits

For example:
*.jpg compression:Uncompressed
*.jpg compression:JPEG
*.jpg compression:LZW
*.jpg compression:"CCITT T.4"

content-max-size:

Limits the amount of data read from disk for a content search to the specified maximum size.

The maximum size is relative from the content offset.
The entire content is searched by default.

Use with a content: search function.

For example:
content-offset:512 content-max-size:512 regex:hexcontent:^(.*)$
content-max-size:2MB content:"My content search"

See also: content:, content-offset:

content-max-threads:

Search content with the specified number of threads.

Set to 0 to use a thread for each logical CPU.

The default is 0. The default can be changed under Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> content_max_threads.

For example:
content-max-threads:1
content-max-threads:0

content-offset:

Start searching for content at the specified byte offset.

Use a negative number to offset from the end of the file.

Use with a content: search function.

For example:
content-offset:512 content-max-size:512 regex:hexcontent:^(.*)$
TODO: this doesn't work on Windows 11.
:\$recycle.bin $i content-offset:-520 regex:utf16content:(.*)

See also: content:, content-max-size:

content-range:

Search content with the specified range in bytes.

Range syntax:
<range-start>-<range-end>

Start searching for content at the zero-based range-start (inclusive).
End searching for content at the zero-based range-end (inclusive).

Use with a content: search function.

For example:
content-range:512-1023 regex:hexcontent:^(.*)$

date-accessed-dupe:

Matches files and folders that have the same date accessed as other file or folder results.

For the best performance, enable date accessed indexing.

Aliases: da-dupe:

For example:
date-accessed-dupe:

date-created-dupe:

Matches files and folders that have the same date created as other file or folder results.

For the best performance, enable date created indexing.

Aliases: dc-dupe:

For example:
date-created-dupe:

date-indexed:

Matches files and folders with the specified indexed date.

The indexed date is when Everything last indexed the volume.

For example:
date-indexed:today
date-indexed:2026
date-indexed:2026-07-02

date-modified-dupe:

Matches files and folders that have the same date modified as other file or folder results.

For the best performance, enable date modified indexing.

Aliases: dm-dupe:

For example:
date-modified-dupe:

descendant-filelist0:

descendant-filelist1:

descendant-filelist2:

descendant-filelist3:

descendant-filelist4:

descendant-filelist5:

descendant-filelist6:

descendant-filelist7:

descendant-filelist8:

descendant-filelist9:

Matches folders that contain a file or folder in the specified file list slot.
Files and folders in subfolders are also searched.

For example:
descendant-filelist1:

descendant-occurrence-count:

Matches folders containing the specified number of matches from a descendant: search.

Use with descendant:

For example:
descendant:mp3 descendant-occurrence-count:>100
descendant-file:*.pdf descendant-occurrence-count:>1

digital-zoom:

Matches photo files with the specified digital zoom value.

For example:
*.jpg digital-zoom:1
*.jpg digital-zoom:1.3..1.7
*.jpg digital-zoom:>1

display-full-path:

Matches files and folders with the specified display full path.

The display full path may differ from the actual full path.

For example:
display-full-path:"Computer\Local Disk (C:)\$Recycle.Bin\Recycle Bin"

See also: display-name:

display-name:

Matches files and folders with the specified display name.

The display name may differ from the actual filename (for example, items inside the Recycle Bin).

For example:
\$recycle.bin display-name:"dont delete me.txt"

See also: display-full-path:

extension-length:

Matches files with the specified extension length in UTF-16 characters.

The leading dot is not part of the extension.

Aliases: ext-len:

For example:
extension-length:3
extension-length:1..2
extension-length:>3
</dl>

exists-in-filelist0:

exists-in-filelist1:

exists-in-filelist2:

exists-in-filelist3:

exists-in-filelist4:

exists-in-filelist5:

exists-in-filelist6:

exists-in-filelist7:

exists-in-filelist8:

exists-in-filelist9:

Matches files and folders when the specified filename exists in the selected file list slot.

Typically used with substitution variables to search for companion or related files.

For example:
exists-in-filelist1:$stem:.srt = matches files and folders when a file with the same stem and a .srt extension exists in file list slot 1.