Searchable file types

Microsoft Windows Desktop Search

Searchable file types

Microsoft Windows Desktop Search indexes more than 200 of the most common file types, all of which are listed below.

However, Windows Desktop Search cannot index every type of file. To enable Windows Desktop Search to search more file types, you can use an IFilter, which is a component of the indexing service included with Microsoft Windows 2000 and later. If a file type you want to search for is not listed, you may be able to download an IFilter that allows Windows Desktop Search to index that file type. For more information, visit the Desktop Search iFilters website, or the iFilter.org website.

 E-mail

Windows Desktop Search will index the contents of the following file types:

  • eml
  • msg

Note

If a .msg file contains another .msg file as an attachment, only the name of the attached .msg file is indexed.

 Contacts

Windows Desktop Search will index the entire contents of the following file types:

  • vcf

Windows Desktop Search will index the file name and metadata for the following file types:

  • vcard
 Appointments

Windows Desktop Search will index the file name and metadata for the following file types:

  • ics
  • vcs
 Documents

Windows Desktop Search will index the file name and metadata for the following file types:

  • ade
  • adp
  • mpd
  • mde
  • mpc
  • mpp
  • mpv
  • vdx
  • mpx
  • vsl
  • vst
  • vsw
  • vsx
  • vtx
 Text documents

Windows Desktop Search will index the entire contents of the following file types:

  • doc
  • dot
  • htm
  • html
  • mht
  • one
  • rtf
  • txt
  • xml

Windows Desktop Search will index the file name and metadata for:

  • pdf

To search the full contents of this file type, download the IFilter now.

  • dvi
  • eps
  • jnt
  • latex
  • pm
  • pm5
  • ps
  • pt5
  • rtx
  • tex
  • xml
 Spreadsheets

Windows Desktop Search will index the entire contents of the following file types:

  • xls
  • xlw

Windows Desktop Search will index the file name and metadata for the following file types:

  • csv
  • tsv
  • wks
  • xlb
  • xlc
  • xll
  • xlm
 Presentations

Windows Desktop Search will index the entire contents of the following file types:

  • pot
  • pps
  • ppt

Windows Desktop Search will index the file name and metadata for the following file types:

  • ppz
 Music

Windows Desktop Search will index the file name and metadata for the following file types:

  • aac
  • aif
  • aiff
  • amf
  • au
  • cda
  • dfs
  • dss
  • far
  • m3u
  • mid
  • midi
  • mp3
  • mus
  • okt
  • p16
  • psm
  • ra
  • ram
  • rmi
  • s3m
  • snd
  • sng
  • stm
  • ult
  • uw
  • voc
  • wav
  • wma
  • xm
  • xmi
 Pictures

Windows Desktop Search will index the file name and metadata for the following file types:

  • 3ds
  • a11
  • ai
  • ani
  • anm
  • art
  • b_w
  • b&w
  • b1n
  • b8
  • bga
  • bit
  • bld
  • bm
  • cdf
  • cdr
  • cmp
  • cps
  • cvs
  • dib
  • dip
  • dcx
  • dkb
  • dw2
  • dwg
  • fh3
  • fh4
  • fit
  • flc
  • fli
  • gcd
  • gif
  • gl
  • gsd
  • hrf
  • hs2
  • hsi
  • iax
  • ica
  • jas
  • jff
  • jpc
  • icb
  • jpe
  • jpeg
  • jpg
  • jtf
  • lbm
  • mpt
  • msp
  • nc
  • neo
  • pct
  • pcx
  • pda
  • pdd
  • pgm
  • pix
  • png
  • ppm
  • psd
  • pse
  • qdv
  • rgb
  • rif
  • rip
  • rix
  • rl4
  • rl8
  • sg1
  • tif
  • tiff
  • van
  • vda
  • vdr
  • wmf
  • xif
  • xpm
 Video

Windows Desktop Search will index the file name and metadata for the following file types:

  • asf
  • asx
  • avi
  • awm
  • cmv
  • m1v
  • mmm
  • mov
  • mp2
  • mpa
  • mpe
  • mpeg
  • mpg
  • mpv2
  • mwf
  • qt
  • vue
  • wmv
  • wvx
 Other

Windows Desktop Search will index the entire contents of the following file types:

  • bat
  • c
  • cmd
  • cpp
  • cxx
  • dif
  • disco
  • h
  • hpp
  • hxx
  • idl
  • inc
  • inf
  • inx
  • js
  • nws
  • pl
  • ppa
  • pwz
  • rc
  • reg
  • resx
  • slk
  • url
  • vbs
  • xla
  • xld
  • xlt
  • xlv
  • xsl

Windows Desktop Search will index the file name and metadata for the following file types:

  • acf
  • aifc
  • ascx
  • asm
  • asp
  • aspx
  • bmp
  • cab
  • com
  • cpl
  • cs
  • css
  • cur
  • def
  • dic
  • emf
  • gz
  • hhc
  • ico
  • idq
  • ivf
  • ivf
  • jfif
  • lnk
  • mapiipm.Note
  • mda
  • mp2v
  • odc
  • pl
  • rle
  • scd
  • tar
  • tgz
  • tsp
  • wax
  • wbk
  • sch
  • wiz
  • wm
  • wmp
  • wmx
  • wmz
  • wri
  • wsz
  • wtx
  • xlk
  • z
  • zip