I cannot search for some special characters like [!] on the File Explorer search bar in Windows 10.

[Smart_Guy]

Hello!

Now here's something I don't have an answer for and couldn't find myself.

I have so many files with [!] in them and if I search for them on the search bar in File Explorer the result is all files in the folder. All of them, like I'm searching for anything.

Right now all I can do is go thru all files and find them.

Is there a way to search for [!] ?

 

[Joe C]

Are they yellow or red?

 

[Smart_Guy]

Ah, the are regular white files.

If I input [!] on the search bar, the result is all files in the folder. I tried other standard letters and they worked fine in that same folder with the same files for which I'm searching with "[!]" in the filename. Does Windows 10 not deal with those symbols as standard letter?

 

[tehnokraat]

@Smart_Guy
it's simple, for special characters must use *. For example like
*!
filename.*!
.*! etc

 

[Smart_Guy]

That's not working.

There's a file called Genesis_[!].gen I'm looking for. I tried using *! on the search bar and again it only gave me all files. It's like using *.* in Dos.

 

[Joe C]

Voidtools offers a file search aid, and it looks to be free
https://www.voidtools.com/

 

[Smart_Guy]

Hmm, didn't think of 3rd party apps. Gotta give it a try.
I wish it was possible on native Windows search.

 

[camilasaunder89]

To search for special characters in Windows, type filename:*! into the Explorer search field. This will find all the special characters.

 

[Smart_Guy]

Hey that worked! Looks like the colon is what was missing earlier.
Thanks all.