How to search for only folders in Windows 7 instead of folders AND files

Question

I've had some issues with the new search function in Windows 7. The Search in Windows XP was packed with so many more options. The only option I can access now are Date Modified and Size.

Any pointers to how to get more options in the Windows 7 Search, or links to external programs that can make my life easier?

Related: [How can I see the available Windows Search Filters?](http://superuser.com/q/531659/354511) — G-Man Says 'Reinstate Monica', Nov 17 '15 at 02:13

score 111 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 07 '12 at 07:23

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From the Windows Search Advanced Query Syntax page, use the following search items:

To restrict by file type    Use            Example
------------------------    ---            -------
Folders                     folders        kind:folders
Folder name                 foldername     foldername:mydocs

edited Oct 07 '12 at 07:23

Tim Sylvester

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answered Mar 05 '10 at 14:01

Snark

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Now I see, maybe the Windows 7 search is a bit better suited for search than the Windows XP version =) – sshow Mar 05 '10 at 14:11
@sshow - you should say thanks to snark by up voting the answer. +1 from me – Nicu Zecheru Mar 05 '10 at 14:56
Just great, Thanks a lot. I was looking for that for a while ;) – Mohammad Dayyan Mar 20 '10 at 21:02
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`foldername` is not correct. It searches for files and folders inside of folders of a certain name. – Zombo Nov 23 '14 at 21:26
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`kind:folders` (or `kind:folder`) finds folders, but also collection files like `*.CAB` and `*.ZIP`. To find only true folders, use `type:folder`. – G-Man Says 'Reinstate Monica' Nov 17 '15 at 02:10
+1 In Windows 10 Pro: `kind:folder myfolder` – Omar Abdirahman Jul 01 '16 at 14:44
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BTW this works only for the **English versions of Windows**, for other languages you need to use the translated key word (whatever it may be), yeah, it sucks. – Ivan Castellanos Oct 21 '16 at 01:18
To know what "folder" is called in your language, simply go to a folder and check the properties of it, there it should say "Type: Folder" as the first attribute of the first tab in your language. That is the word you should use for your language, and hopefully what is translated as "Type:" is what you should use before the colon. – Liggliluff Aug 20 '18 at 18:41
How can I find only empty folders ? And/Or folders whose size is less than 100 or 10 KB ? – Vicky Dev Jan 26 '22 at 07:54

score 34 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 31 '15 at 02:00

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In the Search box type:

type:="File Folder" name:[enter the folder name here with no brackets]

edited Jul 31 '15 at 02:00

I say Reinstate Monica

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answered Jul 30 '15 at 23:04

LookingForTheAnswer

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this is the best answer. you can also put *, e.g. name:*middle* – adudley Feb 25 '16 at 10:21
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`type:"File Folder"` (without the equals sign) works as well. – Dennis T --Reinstate Monica-- Aug 05 '18 at 20:18
How can I find only empty folders ? And/Or folders whose size is less than 100 or 10 KB ? – Vicky Dev Jan 26 '22 at 07:54
`type:="file folder"` (lower case `f`) works as well – tdwong.star Nov 28 '22 at 05:42

score 16 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 30 '16 at 12:32

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I understand that you are asking specifically for windows-search based answers, but here is an alternate method in case it is helpful.

Open up the windows command prompt and navigate to the directory from which you want to start searching and use the following command:

dir *SEARCH_TERM* /ad /s

Windows Search just makes me howl with rage for a few minutes before I give up and just do the same search from the command prompt instead.

edited Nov 30 '16 at 12:32

Community

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answered Mar 05 '10 at 14:30

Richard Lucas

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Very fast and good solution. :) But I prefer to add */b* for single line output. ;) – CSchulz Aug 16 '13 at 15:19

score 5 · Answer 4 · answered May 06 '14 at 12:22

On a german version of Windows 7 you'll need the filter below, because type:folder or the like won't work at all:

typ:=Dateiordner

BTW, if you press Win+F, the searchbox will offer at least a tiny bit of assistance below the box and clicking on its blue links will trigger selection widgets.

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 13 '17 at 06:15

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In cmd.exe CLI, go to the folder you want to search from, then dir /ad /b /s "search-string"

Please note that it must be cmd.exe, as I found it is an issue when using PowerShell with that command

answered Mar 13 '17 at 06:15

Xin

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score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Jul 18 '14 at 10:43

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Tired of Windows 7 search wonders I use FileSeek http://www.fileseek.ca It has lots of options: date/size filters, regular expressions, inclusive/exclusive search, etc.

answered Jul 18 '14 at 10:43

Ivan Ferrer Villa

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score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Jun 11 '22 at 08:40

This answer is posted as an answer to a question that was closed as a duplicate, Windows Explorer Search for: Folder name BEGINS WITH [Search term], despite the fact that the accepted answer to this question is wrong because the FolderName property of a folder is its parent:

Test folders:
FolderName:FindMe search results:

The second answer is closer, but doesn't limit results to names that begin with the desired search term:

type:="File Folder" name:FIndMe search results:

To limit results to those names that begin with the desired search string, you have to use the relatively unknown query operator ~<, documented here :

type:Directory name:~<FindMe serach results:
- Note: type:Directory == type:"File Folder"

Another useful operator documented on the linked page is ~ (Allow DOS wildcards within quoted strings):

type:Directory name:~"FindMe*" serach results:

It's useful when you search term contains special characters like parentheses:

type:Directory name:~"*(desired)*" search results:

score 0 · Answer 8 · edited Jul 16 '21 at 08:40

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If you have a French Windows 7 none of the above phrases works. You need a plus sign between the key words (+)

type:="Dossier de fichiers" + nom: [input the folder name, without the brackets. Add a space after : character]

Example: type:="Dossier de fichiers" + nom: Bozo Abc

edited Jul 16 '21 at 08:40

Glaerferyn

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answered Nov 01 '18 at 17:34

user959687

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(1) I appreciate the fact that the French version of Microsoft Windows requires certain commands and keywords to be entered in French. But please write the narrative / descriptive part of your answer in English. The user isn’t actually supposed to ***type*** “tapez le nom de votre dossier, sans les parenthèses. Tapez un espace après nom”, are they? (2) If you are copying this answer from somewhere, you should say where. – Scott - Слава Україні Nov 01 '18 at 17:43

How to search for only folders in Windows 7 instead of folders AND files

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