Although the Start menu is supposed to be the fastest mode to detect local files, software and settings, the default configuration for Windows 10's search indexing service is far from the best. The index located at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search catalogs files and folders from around Windows so that when you perform a search, the operating arrangement tin can simply check this database instead of scanning the entire drive.

Past default, searching the Get-go carte du jour doesn't render files that you store on a secondary drive such as portable exes, non to mention that Windows 10'southward Start menu has other annoyances such equally integrated Net search results and emphasizing "apps." Generally speaking, we don't have a problem with that, however it is not uncommon that a simple query won't return whatever valid results from your local bulldoze first, no matter how simple or precise your query is. Of course, your mileage volition vary, but unreliable search oft means you cease depending on it.

If you're unsatisfied with your Start menu's search results, the default settings can be improved with a few tweaks such equally adding new locations to the alphabetize from the "Indexing Options" menu, while there are likewise many characteristic-rich alternative applications that are faster and more accurate than searching from Start bill of fare.

Meliorate the Beginning menu without extra software

If yous're trying to find files on a secondary bulldoze by searching the Get-go menu, you'll have to include this destination from Indexing Options, which you can open by searching the Start menu for "indexing options."

Add a secondary drive to the Start menu search

From the Indexing Options menu, click "Modify" for a listing of drives and check the box adjacent to the device that you desire to include (click the pointer to choose a more specific location on this drive instead of indexing the entire affair).

By default, the Start carte programs (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Card\Programs) should already exist indexed along with your Windows user folder and Cyberspace Explorer history.

Forth with adding new drives to the Get-go menu'due south search results, y'all may desire to remove locations from the index.

For instance, the user folder has many sub-folders which are also indexed and depending on how many files yous have stored here, these could be congesting the Start menu's search results and/or reducing its performance.

Clicking the Avant-garde push button in Indexing Options opens a window with a tab where you can also add or remove file extensions that are indexed, which may also assist in improving the speed or accuracy of your search results.

Remove Internet search results from the Starting time menu

Yous can mostly disable the web results from the appearing in the Start menu with a few changes in the Group Policy Editor. Although Internet results won't be straight listed in First searches, there will nonetheless be an option on the bottom to "see spider web results," which volition open said results in a new pane aslope the Start bill of fare.

If you're on Habitation edition of Windows and don't have the Group Policy Editor, here's a guide on installing the utility along with a third-party software recommendation that brings group policy functionality to any version of Windows.

Search for gpedit.msc to open up the Group Policy Editor, from which you tin navigate to the Start menu'southward spider web search settings by going to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search...

And then enable the following policies: (double-click on them for the pick)

  • Do not allow spider web search
  • Don't search the web or display spider web results in Search
  • Don't search the spider web or display web results in Search over…

At that place's also a whole section of Group Policy settings for customizing the Start menu and Taskbar.

Go to: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Kickoff Menu and Taskbar

Windows interface operation tweaks

Disabling animations for menus and windows tin can improve performance on lower-end machines and Windows is visually snappier without these settings enabled. We've included a gif demonstrating the speed difference of opening and closing OpenShell with and without one of these functioning animation settings enabled ("Fade or slide menus into view").

Launching this settings menu is likewise a proficient example where searching from the Start menu isn't always the all-time way to find files and settings. We're going to "Performance Options" and yet searching the Start carte du jour for "operation options" and alternative names only produces web results. Instead, you must search for "advanced organization settings."

Other ways to reach these settings:

  • From the Control Panel: System > Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows > Visual Effects tab...
  • From This PC: Right click This PC > Properties > Advanced system settings > Advanced tab > Functioning Settings...

Ameliorate software for searching Windows

Fifty-fifty if yous tailor the search alphabetize along with making configurations such every bit removing app ads and Internet results, searching from the Start menu is still slower and less flexible than many standalone culling applications.

Some of these recommendations tin do a lot more than search for files effectually Windows, while all of them are generally faster at finding results and the results presented are oftentimes more relevant.

Everything

Demonstrated in the gif in a higher place, this tool completes its initial index scan in less than a infinitesimal (even on a Windows ten pen bulldoze loaded in a virtual machine), after which searching for files and folders is instantaneous. Doesn't have actress "launcher" features such as an integrated calculator or control prompt, but is yet highly configurable. Of notation, Tools > Options > Keyboard > Toggle window Hotkey will let you lot ready a keyboard shortcut for opening and closing the software (we use Ctrl + Space)

Wox

Also fast at searching for files around Windows, and in fact, Wox uses an "Everything" plugin for this functionality. Additionally, the software has plugins for doing math, launching URLs, running arrangement commands and more past typing directly into the launcher. We've had the nearly experience with Launchy over the years, though development has stopped on this tool. However, these two and Hain announced to be about equal in terms of overall features and functionality.

OpenShell

(Formerly Classic Shell) - If you're unfamiliar with this go-to Kickoff menu replacement, the software opens a new interface on height of the default Beginning menu with a design that looks more like the one from Windows seven. Among other improvements, OpenShell is better about presenting desktop settings than the default Windows 10 Start menu. For instance, as mentioned earlier, searching for "operation options" on the Starting time menu doesn't list annihilation while OpenShell speedily shows the desired results for this query.

A question for you instead of a bonus...

When we search for something from the Start carte du jour in Windows ten, Microsoft includes recommended app downloads from the Windows Store -- in fact we but received Windows Store recommendations when searching for "test."

We disabled the setting "Occasionally show suggestions in Start" located in Settings > Personalization > Commencement along with making many other attempts to remove these app recommendations from our results, yet they were still included.

"Other attempts" included an assortment of group policy and registry settings likewise as different Windows utilities.

Does anyone know how to completely remove Windows Store app recommendations from the Showtime menu'southward search results?

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