# In Windows 8, how do I restrict a file search to file NAMES rather than names, contents, & tags?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-windows-8-how-do-i-restrict-a-file-search-to-file-names-rather-than-names-contents-tags/652029>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 4, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-windows-8-how-do-i-restrict-a-file-search-to-file-names-rather-than-names-contents-tags/652029 "2013-03-04T18:53:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-windows-8-how-do-i-restrict-a-file-search-to-file-names-rather-than-names-contents-tags/652029/1 "2013-03-04T18:53:45Z")

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I bought a couple of new computers back in November or so, both with Windows 8. My previous computers had Vista. In Vista, it was fairly easy to make it the default to search only for file names, and that is how I had it set up; for most seaches, I found that most useful. In Windows 8 I see no way either to make “file names only” the default or even the option for a specific search. Can anyone assist?

Ciao,  
M

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**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-windows-8-how-do-i-restrict-a-file-search-to-file-names-rather-than-names-contents-tags/652029/2 "2013-03-04T20:36:01Z")

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I pressed the little magnifying glass in the search field in Windows explorer and was given options for search filters, including “Name:”.

ETA: and then realized I can just write “name: whatever”

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**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-windows-8-how-do-i-restrict-a-file-search-to-file-names-rather-than-names-contents-tags/652029/3 "2013-03-04T21:18:46Z")

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> [@naita](#):
>
> I pressed the little magnifying glass in the search field in Windows explorer and was given options for search filters, including “Name:”.
> 
> ETA: and then realized I can just write “name: whatever”

It’s File Explorer now. But that works; many thanks.