Start Menu Search Ignores Desktop Items

[Starker]

Version: Pro

Build: 26100.3476

Searching from the Start Menu seems to look everywhere except the desktop, which is what I want to search first. I want to open shortcuts from the desktop without minimizing windows.

I have everything indexed from what I can see. AppData is the exclusion because something re-adds this after I remove it and restart. I have one drive.





What do I do to include Desktop in search?

 

[Xploit Machine]

Modify the Indexing section like below, select all these ..

then close everything, after that open back Indexing secion and click REBUILD;

 

[Xploit Machine]

Personally I disabled Windows Indexing feature because it slows down my system, I use File Locator Pro as alternative because its fast and accurate compared to built-in search function

 

[RasulGreen]

Hi @Starker
To include your Desktop in Start Menu searches:

1. Open Indexing Options (search for it in the Start Menu).
2. Click Modify and make sure Desktop is selected under your user profile.
3. After that, click Advanced > Rebuild the index.

This will reindex everything and ensure Desktop items are searchable without minimizing windows.
It might take some time to rebuild, but it usually fixes search issues.

Optional Tip:
If search still feels slow, some people prefer using faster alternatives like File Locator Pro, but for basic Desktop shortcut searching, rebuilding the Windows index should be enough.