Everything File Search Vs. Windows Search: Which One Is Right For You?

Image: Freepik

File search is essential for anyone needing to find specific files on their computer quickly. With so many file search options available, knowing which one is right for you can be challenging.

In this blog, we will compare two popular file search options: Everything File Search and Windows Search. We will examine their features, benefits, and drawbacks to help you decide which is best suited for your needs.

What Is File Search?

File search is a feature that allows you to find specific files on your computer by searching for keywords or phrases. This feature is handy for people who work with large volumes of data, such as writers, researchers, and data analysts.

File search programs can be divided into two categories:

1. Desktop search engines, such as Everything File Search, Anytxt, and Windows Search, index files on your computer and allow you to search for them using keywords or phrases.
2. File managers, such as Windows Explorer and Finder on Mac, will enable you to manually navigate your files and folders.

Everything File Search

Everything File Search is a free and lightweight desktop search engine developed by Voidtools. It is known for its lightning-fast search capabilities, making it an excellent choice for people who need to find files quickly.

Image: Everything File Search

Features Of Everything File Search

• Instant Search Results — Everything File Search indexes your files in real-time, meaning search results are displayed instantly.
• Regex Support — Everything File Search supports regular expressions, allowing for more advanced search queries.
• Customizable Interface — Everything File Search allows you to customize the appearance of the search results window.
• File Management — Everything File Search will enable you to delete, copy, and move files directly from the search results window.
• Command-Line Interface — Everything File Search has a command-line interface, allowing more advanced users to use it more effectively.

Related: How to search file contents by Everything?

Benefits Of Everything File Search

• Fast — Everything File Search is known for its fast search speeds, making it an excellent choice for people who need to find files quickly.
• Easy To Use — Everything File Search has a simple interface, making it easy to use for people of all technical levels.
• Customizable — Everything File Search allows you to customize the interface, search settings, and more to suit your needs.

Drawbacks Of Everything File Search

• Limited Search Scope — Everything File Search only searches for files on your computer’s local drives, meaning that it cannot search network drives or cloud storage.
• Limited File Information — Everything File Search only displays basic file information, such as file name, path, and size. It does not display file metadata, such as the date created or modified.

Windows Search

Windows Search is a built-in search feature in the Windows operating system. It allows you to search for files, folders, and applications on your computer.

Features Of Windows Search

• Indexing — Windows Search indexes files on your computer, allowing for faster search speeds.
• File Types — Windows Search can search for specific file types, such as documents, pictures, and music.
• Filters — Windows Search allows you to filter search results by file type, date modified, and more.
• Advanced Search Options — Windows Search allows for more advanced search queries, such as searching for files that contain specific phrases.

Image: Windows Search

Benefits Of Windows Search

• Integrated — Windows Search is integrated into Windows operating systems, meaning you do not need to install additional software.
• Comprehensive — Windows Search can search for files on your computer, network drives, and cloud storage.
• Customizable — Windows Search allows you to customize the search index, file types, and search filters.

Drawbacks Of Windows Search

• Slow Indexing — Windows Search can take a long time to index files on your computer, making initial searches slower.
• Resource-Intensive — Windows Search can consume significant system resources, slowing down your computer’s performance.
• Limited Regex Support — Windows Search does not support regular expressions, limiting the complexity of search queries.

File Search vs. Windows Search: Which Is Best For You?

Now that we have explored the features, benefits, and drawbacks of Everything File Search and Windows Search, it is time to determine which is right for you. Here are some factors to consider:

• Speed

If speed is a priority, then Everything File Search is the clear winner. Its real-time indexing and lightning-fast search speeds make it an excellent choice for people who need to find files quickly.

• Search scope

Windows Search is the better option if you need to search for files on network drives or cloud storage. Everything File Search is limited to searching for files on your computer’s local drives.

• Resource usage

Windows Search may be the better choice if you have a powerful computer with plenty of resources. However, if you have a slower or older computer, then Everything File Search’s lightweight design may be more suitable.

• Advanced search capabilities

If you need more advanced search capabilities, such as support for regular expressions or complex search queries, then Everything File Search is the better choice. Windows Search’s limited regex support and search options may not be sufficient.

• Customizability

Both Everything File Search and Windows Search offer some degree of customizability. However, Everything File Search allows more customization of the search interface and settings.

File Search vs. Windows Search: Comparison Table

To summarize the differences between Everything and Windows Search, here is a comparison table:

Summary

In conclusion, the choice between Everything File Search and Windows Search ultimately depends on your specific needs. If you prioritize speed, advanced search capabilities, and lightweight design, then Everything File Search is better.

However, Windows Search may be more suitable if you need to search for files on network drives or cloud storage and have a powerful computer.

Now that you have a better understanding of both tools, you can make an informed decision on which one to choose for you. Regardless of which file search program you choose, having a reliable and efficient file search tool is crucial for anyone working with large data volumes.