Searching by File Type: Documents, Photos, Music, and More

Ever wish you could search just for photos, or only for documents?

Both Windows and Mac make it easy to filter searches by file type, so you can zero in on exactly what you’re looking for.

💻 Searching by File Type on Windows

1. Use the File Explorer Search Bar 

• Open File Explorer.

• Click in the search bar (top right).

• Type your keyword plus a filter, like:

  • kind:document

  • kind:picture

  • kind:music

   

• Windows will show only that type of file.

2. Search by Extension 

• In the search bar, type *.pdf or *.jpg.

• This shows every file with that extension in the folder (and subfolders).

3. Combine Filters 

• Example: report kind:document date:2024

• This narrows results to Word, Excel, or PDF reports from 2024.

🍎 Searching by File Type on a Mac

1. Finder Search Filters  

• Open Finder.

• Type your keyword in the search bar.

• Click the + button below the search box.

• Add a filter: choose Kind → select Document, Image, Music, PDF, etc.

2. Search by Extension 

• In Finder’s search bar, type kind:pdf or just .jpg.

• Results narrow to that file type.

3. Save a Smart Folder  

• After setting up a search, click Save.

• This creates a “Smart Folder” that updates automatically with files of that type.

🚀 Quick Tips (Both Systems)

• Use file types if you remember what kind of file it was, but not the name.

• Narrow searches to specific folders (like Documents or Pictures) for faster results.

• Saving smart searches can save you time if you often look for the same file type.

👉 PCRescue can help organize your files into easy-to-find folders and even set up smart searches for you — no more digging through clutter.