How to Make Windows 7 Search File Contents

Steps

1. Click the Start button and in the search box at the very bottom type "search" then choose the result "Change How Windows Searches"
2. Choose the "Advanced" button just below the list of indexed locations.
3. Activate the "File Types" tab in the Advanced Options window.
4. After windows populates the file type list, locate the extension that you want it to look into in the future.
   • If the extension is not listed, enter your desired file extension, such as ".php" into the input box at the bottom and click Add.
5. Once your extension is highlighted, change the indexing property to "Index Properties and File Contents" and click OK, close the Indexing options.
6. Try your search again and your expected results will appear.

Tips

• After updating your indexing options, you may have to wait some time before your results will appear as expected as Windows must rebuild it's index with the contents of the new files.
• You may also add additional folders to the list of indexed locations.
• The Indexing Options page will display the real time status of the indexing operation.

Related wikiHows

• How to Rebuild Windows Vista Search Index
• How to Add a Folder to the Windows 7 File Index

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