How to Search for Multiple File Types in Windows Explorer

Finding a specific document in a folder full of mixed files can take longer than expected. You might need PDFs, Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets for the same project, but searching for each format separately wastes time. 

Windows File Explorer allows you to combine file extensions in a single search query and narrow the results using filename or modification-date filters. Let’s learn how to search for multiple file types in Windows Explorer at once and refine the results to find what you need.

How to Search for Multiple File Types in Windows Explorer?

Windows File Explorer search for multiple file types can be done using the OR operator. This allows you to find different formats in one search instead of repeating the process for Windows search by file type.

Here is how to search for multiple file types in Windows Explorer:

• Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
• Navigate to the folder or drive you want to search. Or just select This PC to search across your PC.

  

• Click the search box in the upper-right corner.
• Enter the following query:

  ext:xls OR ext:doc OR ext:ppt

  

• Press Enter to display matching files.

  

This query searches for PDF files, Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets within the selected location. Replace the extensions with the formats you need. Enter them without the leading periods and keep OR in uppercase.

Here are some other examples of search queries for better understanding:

File Types	Search Query
PDF and Word documents	ext:pdf OR ext:docx
JPG and PNG images	ext:jpg OR ext:png
Excel and CSV files	ext:xlsx OR ext:csv
PowerPoint and PDF files	ext:pptx OR ext:pdf
MP4 and AVI videos	ext:mp4 OR ext:avi

If the combined query does not return the expected results, try searching for each extension separately. This helps you determine whether the problem is the query or the selected search location.

How to Refine Your Windows Search for File Types?

Once you have combined file extensions, you can add other search conditions to narrow the results. This is useful when a folder contains many files of the same format.

1. Search for a Specific File Type
   
   To find PDF files in the selected location, enter:

   ext:pdf

   You can also search using a wildcard:

   *.pdf

   The first query filters by file extension, while the second looks for filenames ending in .pdf. You can replace the pdf with the extension you are looking for.

2. Combine File Types With a Filename

   If you remember part of a file’s name, combine it with the extension filter. For example: 

   filename:report ext:(pdf OR docx)

   This narrows the search to files matching the filename condition and either extension. Here you can replace “report” with a word from the filename you want to search.

3. Filter Results by Date

   You can also combine file extensions with a modification-date filter:

   ext:(pdf OR docx) datemodified:this week

   This searches for PDF and Word files modified during the current week. You can change the date condition to suit your search.

These filters help you narrow the results without opening folders individually. If expected files still don’t appear, check that you are searching the correct location and that Windows indexing includes the relevant folders.

Final Thoughts

Searching for multiple file types in Windows File Explorer is easier when you combine extensions with the OR operator. For example, ‘ext:pdf OR ext:png OR ext:jpg’ finds several document formats in one query, while filename and date filters can further refine the results.

Start with the simplest query and add filters only when needed. If files are missing from the results, check the search location and indexing settings before assuming the files are gone.