How do I search multiple files in a folder?

Last reviewed: September 27, 2026 · Markdown version

Open the folder and search from inside it. On a computer, that search can look at the words inside your files as well as their names — as long as the folder has been indexed. On a phone it depends on the app and the device. Here is what Microsoft, Apple and Google say, platform by platform, and what each one needs before it works.

Windows: search from the folder, and check it is indexed

Microsoft's guidance is to open File Explorer and search where the files are: "To find files stored inside a folder, search from a folder like Downloads." If you are not sure where they are, "To do a slow but in-depth search, search from This PC instead of Home" (Find your files and apps in Windows, read 27 September 2026).

Whether it finds words inside the files comes down to the index. Microsoft says "For files with text, their contents are indexed to allow you to search for words within the files", but the default Classic mode only "indexes your Documents, Pictures, and Music folders plus the desktop by default" (Search indexing in Windows, read 27 September 2026). A project folder anywhere else needs adding to the indexed locations first — and if searches are crawling, here is why, and the fixes.

Mac: the Finder search field

Open a Finder window and type in its search field. Apple's guide shows how to narrow the results by typing keywords: "trip kind:document searches for the word “trip” in documents only", and the keyword list includes kind:pdf for PDFs. Holding Option while adding criteria lets you combine conditions with AND, OR and NOT. A search you run often can be kept: "Your search is saved as a Smart Folder" (Narrow your search results in Finder on Mac, read 27 September 2026).

Android: Files by Google

The search bar in Files by Google takes "the name of the file that you want to search", with filters for type and date. Its Smart Search goes further and can match "Text from images and .pdf", with the scanning done "on your device so your information doesn’t leave your device". Two conditions from the same page: it may not be offered on your phone yet, and if it is switched off, "you can only use text from file names to search for files" (Search for a file — Files by Google Help, read 27 September 2026). More on searching PDFs on Android.

What these searches give back

All three are built to find a file. You get a list of documents that match, then open each one and search again inside it to find the page. For ten files that is fine. For a folder of statements or manuals where the question is "which page says this?", it means opening everything the search returned, one at a time.

Where DocFind fits

For PDFs on a phone, DocFind does that second step for you. It searches inside many PDFs at once, and results show the file, the page, and the surrounding text; tap one and the PDF opens at that page with your keywords highlighted. Scanned PDFs are read on the device first and then searched like the rest, and indexing runs in the background, shows its progress, and picks up where it left off. It works with no internet connection, on iPhone and Android.

The limits: PDFs only — not Word, Excel or text files. There is no stemming, so searching for "running" won't find "run". Printed text in scans is read; handwriting is not. The free tier is one library of up to 25 documents, 10 scanned pages and 10 exports every month, unlimited keywords and unlimited results.