Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Complex Searches for Documents.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 19, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Nick's legal department has lots of Word documents in specific subfolders of a directory and would like to search those subfolders for documents containing a name or phrase within the document itself. According to Nick, their options appear to be two-fold. First, they can use Windows Search, but that does not appear to allow the searcher to specify multiple subfolders to use in the search. Second, they can use the Search feature in the Open dialog box, but that doesn't seem to provide much power in searching at all. Nick wonders if there is an easy way to do the type of document searching they need to do.
Nick is right; the two apparent approaches are not the best for those trying to do complex searches. One option is to, within Word, develop your own search capability using VBA. This can be a difficult route to go, but it can provide specific, focused results. If you choose to go this route, then here is a good place to start:
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/word_tip_pages/vba_find_and_replace.html
If you don't want to go the build-it-yourself route (and, honestly, I couldn't blame you in this circumstance), then there are any number of third-party Windows tools that you can use to do your searching. Here are just a few suggested by WordTips readers, in no particular order:
X1 Search – https://www.x1.com/products/x1-search/ Copernic - http://www.copernic.com/en/products/desktop-search/ FileSeek - http://www.fileseek.ca/ Total Commander - http://www.ghisler.com
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (7978) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Complex Searches for Documents.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
If you try to add spaces to the beginning of a document's file name, Word normally strips them away. This tip examines ...
Discover MoreAt some point you may want to insert one Word document inside another Word document. An easy way to do this is to use the ...
Discover MoreThe MRU (most recently used) list informs you which documents were the last to be opened and edited in Word. You can ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2020-09-24 07:33:09
Alex B
I don't think you can specify subfolders in the windows search but it will look at all subfolders (at least in my testing). In terms of complexity, this worked for me:-
kind:word content:(domestic AND airport)
To find all word documents in a subfolder of where I started my search with both words in the document.
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here:
Comments