You can click on the Recycle bin icon on your desktop, or you can use Cortana’s search bar. If any results match what you’ve typed, they should appear in the right pane.ĭon’t forget that you can also check the recycling bin, just in case you erased it accidentally. Type a phrase or what you remember of the file title, and Windows will start searching. You can either select today, this week, last week, this month, last month, this year, and last year.Īs long as you have the search options open, click on Advanced options and make sure that the File contents option is checked. Click on the drop-down menu and choose the time frame that you think applies to your file. Open the File Explorer and click on the search in the upper right-hand corner.Īfter clicking, a Date Modified option will appear.

Believe it or not, there is still a way for you to find the file. You have no clue what you named the file, but you remember that you worked on it last week. The following is a list of the most common file extensions you can use to find that missing file. You’re not obligated to have to remember the name of the file, you have good chances of finding your file as long as you can remember the file extension. If the file is a Word document, go to File > Open > Recent Documents. If you’ve been working on the missing file recently, you should be able to see it in the Recent Documents section. If the worst has happened and you don’t even remember the name of the file, there is still a way to find the file. How to Find a File When You Can’t Remember its Name To filter your results, click on the drop-down menu to the right of the filter option.Ĭlick on the option where you think your file might be and Windows will show you if any files that match your search.Ģ. If you see too many results, you can filter the results, so it only shows files in specific areas. Hopefully, your files are among the search results you’re shown. By typing the first few letters, Windows will show you all the files that start with those letters. You don’t have to remember the entire name of the file you’ve misplaced. The search bar next to the start button can not only find apps installed in your computer, but it will also help you find files. Instead of wasting time searching through the file manager, let your computer do the work for you. Use the Search Bar Beside the Start Button

File explorer find files by date