Master Everything: Advanced Windows File Search Techniques

Everything is an essential Windows tool, lightweight and fast, comparable to Alfred on macOS.

Below are several advanced usage tips.

1. Everything basic settings

Basic settings include "Start with system" and "Integrate into Explorer right‑click menu". After integration you can open the search box via right‑click and lock it to the current folder.

You can also enable highlighting of search terms in General → Font & Colors → Item state → Highlight part.

2. HTTP service settings

If you have a file‑sharing server for a small team, you can install an HTTP service so users can search and download files through a web page, browse directories, and set custom port and credentials to restrict access.

Everything also provides an FTP service to list indexed directories for download.

3. Common search syntax

Space: AND

|: OR

!: NOT

"": exact match

*: wildcard for one or more characters

?: wildcard for a single character

4. Search specific file types

Use keywords to limit file types, e.g., zip, doc, exe, pic, audio, video, or ext for specific extensions (multiple separated by |).

5. Search files by size

size [kb|mb|gb] | empty | tiny | small | medium | large | huge | gigantic | unknown

tiny: 0 KB < size ≤ 10 KB

small: 10 KB < size ≤ 100 KB

medium: 100 KB < size ≤ 1 MB

large: 1 MB < size ≤ 16 MB

huge: 16 MB < size ≤ 128 MB

gigantic: size > 128 MB

Examples:

Search files larger than 1 GB: size:>1gb Search files classified as large:

size:large

6. Batch rename files

Select files in the results, right‑click → Rename, then edit the "New filename expression" to rename multiple files at once.

7. Batch delete empty folders

Use queries to find empty folders and delete them. Example query:

empty:
childcount:0

Tips: perform deletions in a specific directory and verify folders are empty; Everything cannot delete recursively, so you must delete deepest empty folder first.

Related commands:

child: folders containing files matching the name

childcount: folders with a specified number of sub‑folders or files

childfilecount: folders with a specified number of files (excluding folders)

childfoldercount: folders with a specified number of sub‑folders

8. Download link

Click “Read original” at the bottom left to obtain the software package download link.