Summary:
This article will cover several methods of searching for content within OneDrive and SharePoint.
Content:
Search On the Web
It’s easy to search your files and folders quickly within Microsoft365 using Microsoft Search.
Microsoft Search is the large Search bar you’ll see across the top of each area of Office on the Web (portal.office.com). Using Microsoft Search on the web will offer you the most robust features and options. You can also search the OneDrive desktop app on your computer.
- Search Everything
- Search with a Web App: (OneDrive, SharePoint)
- Web App Search Operators
- Search on your Computer
Search Everything:
- Login to portal.office.com
- Click into the Microsoft Search bar at the top of the page.
- You’ll notice your most recent files already appear so you can easily access your most recent items.
- Start typing your search – you can search for Apps, Files, People, and Sites. You’ll see suggested results that change as you type. If what you’re looking for appears in the dropdown, just click on it to access.
- To see full results, press Return
Search within a Web App: (OneDrive, SharePoint)
- Login to portal.office.com and select the OneDrive app on the left (cloud icon)
- If you don’t see the app listed, click on the App Launcher (9 dot grid) on the top left to view all apps.
- Click into the Microsoft Search bar at the top of the page.
- You’ll notice your most recent files already appear so you can easily access your most recent items.
- Start typing your search – you can search for Apps, Files, People, and Sites. You’ll see suggested results that change as you type. If what you’re looking for appears in the dropdown, just click on it to access.
- To see full results, press Return.
Web App Search Operators:
Within a Web app, you can also use search operators in the Microsoft Search bar to help narrow your search:
Filetype:[type] (pdf, xlsx, ppt, docx etc)
- to limit your search to retrieve a list of specific file types.
- E.x. Filetype:pdf returns PDF documents.
Filename:‘name’
- to search for files and folders with a specific word in the title
- E.x. Filename:‘support’ returns all items and folders with ‘support’ in the file name
Modifiedby:‘person’
- to search for files and folders last modified by a specific person
- E.x. Filename:‘John Smith’ returns all items and folders last modified by John Smith
Note: Microsoft Search is personalized to you and the files you have access to, so others may see different results even if you both use the same search terms.
Search on your Computer (not recommended)
Searching for files stored in OneDrive using the Windows or Mac desktop search is not recommended. Because of limitations in the search functions, you may find not all results will appear or that Windows may not successfully search file contents. Follow the links below for more information about search in Windows and in MacOS.
PC
Mac
Click here to learn more about searching in Microsoft 365.
Need Additional Help?
Please fill out the Microsoft 365 Support webform with as much detail as possible, or contact the ET&S Help Desk team on your local campus.