In Windows 8, you can search for files of multiple types at the same time. To do this, you need to open the File Explorer window and type in the following command: Search for files of multiple types in File Explorer
Searching for a singular file or file type is one thing, but what do you do when you need to search for multiple file types at the same time? Today’s SuperUser Q&A post comes to the rescue for one reader’s file search dilemma.
Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-driven grouping of Q&A web sites.
The Question
SuperUser reader Sebastien wants to know how to search for multiple file types at the same time in Windows 8:
Is there an easy way for Sebastien to search for multiple file types at the same time?
When I use Ctrl+F in Windows Explorer and enter extension types like .txt;.csv;*.xml, I watch the search bar fill up with green for a long time, but end up with no results. I know there are hundreds of these file types in the parent directory and sub-directories though.
How can I do a search like this in Windows 8 that returns results?
The Answer
SuperUser contributor AppsDev has the answer for us:
Special Note: As noted in additional comments in the discussion thread, make sure that the word “OR” is capitalized when doing a search for multiple file types.
For multiple file types use Ext:.doc OR Ext:.txt OR Ext:.pdf. Hope this helps you.
Have something to add to the explanation? Sound off in the comments. Want to read more answers from other tech-savvy Stack Exchange users? Check out the full discussion thread here.
