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How to search an EXACT PHRASE in file contents - explorer

Hi, I am after some help, this question has been asked several times in the community but the suggestions are not working so I will ask again maybe somebody found a workaround.


Windows 10 - How to search an EXACT PHRASE in file contents?

I am searching daily through 1000 different word files, and often I need to find something specific.

For eg "blue wood sign", if I type in this 3-word text it will find me all the documents that CONTAIN wood, blue, and sign.

What is the trick of searching for an exact phrase?

I have tried so far these suggestions from the community

putting it in ""   "blue wood sign"

repeating the phrase "blue wood sign"  "blue wood sign"

content: "blue wood sign"

or simply tried blue wood sign

Each of these ideas searches for every single word. Or if you can advise some different programs to download/buy that will be able to do this.

Please help me out

Thank you


Hi Tavasz

I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this . . .

In the search box in File Explorer, paste this search term and see if that results in only finding files with that exact phrase, I have tested this and it does work . . .

content: "blue wood sign"
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Hi, thank you for your reply

Unfortunately, that is not working.

I have tested it several times

It will find me all the documents which contain any of those words. Tried it with different word combinations.

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Hi Tavasz

I know in certain recent versions of Windows 10, the search functionality is not working correctly, click your Start Button, type winver and hit Enter

On the resulting dialog, what Version No. and build No. of Windows 10 are you running?
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Hi

It says

Version 2004 os build 19041.630

Then what we should do? If there a way to update the version so I can benefit of this feauter which is really important for my daily work?

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Hi Tavasz

I am on version 20h2, and that search term works correctly in that version, try updating your Windows 10 to that version, click the link below, then click 'Update Now' on that page to download the Update Assistant, then run that to immediately get 20h2 and bring your PC right up to date

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...
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Hi

I really appreciate your help, but unfortunately, it is not working.

I have updated, but it works in the same way as before

Used the explorer search like this content: "blue wood sign"

It returned each and every document that contained the word blue , and sign, and wood. These words were not even in the same place. The words are available in this document but it is not an exact phrase, they are randomly found in the document. "blue wood sign" is a really specific word and I know that there is just 1 document that contains this exact word. I use this feature daily and most of the times it takes a really long time to identify the document which is an exact match.

Please help me out here. Thank you

ImageImage

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Hi Tavasz

Okay, then the best thing to do is install Agent Ransack, it is safe, free and very fast.

When installing that, choose the Free version, then at the end of the installer, choose the Lite (free) version, that will very quickly find files with the exact content you search for

In Agent Ransack, choose the folder you want to search through, enter the search term and click Start, that utility will even preview the file where that terms was found

https://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

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Standard Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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Found this somewhere else and it worked for me in case you still need it.

~="your search phrase"

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works for me, but microsoft file explorer: why is it so complicated?

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Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19041.928]

When "search file content" is not checked

It may be written

content:~="your search phrase"

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Last updated April 26, 2025 Views 80,484 Applies to: