Stop Waiting on Windows Search: Meet “Everything” by Voidtools

If you have ever stared blankly at the green progress bar in Windows File Explorer while it struggles to find a file you know is there, you are not alone. Windows Search has improved over the years, but for power users and anyone with a massive hard drive, it can still feel sluggish and incomplete.

Enter Everything by Voidtools—a tiny, freeware utility that might just be the most efficient piece of software you ever install.

What is Everything?

Everything is a desktop search engine for Windows that locates files and folders by name instantly. Unlike Windows Search, which often tries to index content and metadata in a heavy background process, Everything focuses on speed. It reads the Master File Table (MFT) of your NTFS drives to build an index of every single file on your computer in seconds.

The result? You type a letter, and the results appear before you can even lift your finger off the key.

Why You Should Switch

Here is why “Everything” lives up to its name:

• Insane Speed: The search results update in real-time as you type. There is no “searching…” animation; the files are just there.
• Lightweight: The installer is less than 2MB, and the program uses minimal system resources (RAM and CPU). It won’t slow down your computer in the background.
• Real-Time Updating: If you add, delete, or change a file, Everything updates its index immediately. You never have to manually hit “refresh.”
• Clean Interface: No bloat, no ads, no “web results” mixed in with your local files—just a simple, functional list of your data.

Power User Features

While it works great out of the box for simple filename searches, it also supports advanced syntax for those who need it:

• Boolean Operators: Use AND, OR, and NOT to refine your logic.
• Wildcards & Regex: Full support for regular expressions lets you find files based on complex patterns.
• Remote Searching: You can actually run an HTTP or ETP server from within the app to search your files from another computer or phone.

How to Get It

You can download the installer or a portable version (which requires no installation and can run off a USB drive) directly from their official site.

• Website: voidtools.com
• Price: Free (Donations accepted)

If you are tired of losing files in the abyss of your hard drive, give Everything a try. It is one of those rare tools that does exactly what it says on the tin, and does it perfectly.