Search Windows files faster using Everything

"Everything" is an administrative tool that locates files and folders by filename instantly for Windows. Unlike Windows search "Everything" initially displays every file and folder on your computer (hence the name "Everything"). You type in a search filter to limit what files and folders are displayed. Why is Everything so fast compared to Windows Search? Everything achieves its speed by directly accessing the NTFS Master File Table (MFT) and utilizing the USN change journal to monitor file changes in real-time. This approach allows it to instantly index and update file names without scanning the entire drive, resulting in near-instantaneous search results. In contrast, Windows Search often relies on broader indexing and metadata scanning, which can be slower and less efficient. Does Everything search file contents or just file names? By default, Everything focuses on indexing and searching file and folder names. However, starting from version 1.5, it introduces optional content in ... Read full article.