Quick Image Search on Windows 10: Step-by-Step

This guide shows you how to perform a quick image search on Windows 10 using the built-in Bing-powered search in File Explorer and the Edge browser. You’ll learn to find images by file name, by content (using visual search), and by using context menus—no extra software needed.

What You’ll Need

A Windows 10 PC with internet connection (for online image search)
An image file you want to search with (for reverse image search)
Microsoft Edge browser (preinstalled on Windows 10)

Step-by-Step

Search by file name in File Explorer: Open File Explorer (Win + E), navigate to any folder, and click the search box in the top-right corner. Type a keyword like “sunset” or “*.jpg” to filter images by name or type. Press Enter to see results instantly.
Search by image content using Bing Visual Search: Open Microsoft Edge, go to bing.com/images, and click the camera icon in the search bar. You can upload an image from your PC, paste a URL, or take a photo with your webcam. Bing will show visually similar images, related searches, and web pages containing that image.
Right-click to search any image on the web: In Edge, right-click any image on a website and choose “Search image with Bing” (or “Search the web for image”). A sidebar will open with matching images and details. This works for photos, logos, and screenshots.
Use the Start menu search for images: Click the Start button or press Win key, type a description like “landscape photos” or a file name. Under the “Best match” section, you’ll see image files from your PC. You can also filter by clicking the “Photos” or “Documents” tabs at the top.
Search within a specific app: In apps like Photos, Paint, or File Explorer, use the search bar (if present) or press Ctrl+F to find images by name or metadata. For example, in the Photos app, click the search icon and type a date, location, or tag.
Use Cortana (if enabled): Click the Cortana search bar on the taskbar, type “images of [subject]” or “find [file name]”, and press Enter. Cortana will show local files and web results.

Common Mistakes

Typing the wrong file extension: For example, searching “*.png” won’t show JPEG files. Use wildcards like “*” to match any characters, e.g., “photo*” finds files starting with “photo”.
Expecting content-based search in File Explorer: Windows 10’s file search only looks at file names, tags, and metadata—not the actual pixels. To find images by what they depict, you need Bing Visual Search or a third-party tool.
Forgetting to include the file extension: Searching “cat” won’t find files named “cat.jpg” if you type “cat” without a wildcard. Use “cat*” or “*.jpg” to broaden results.
Not enabling file name extensions: If you don’t see file extensions, go to View > File name extensions in File Explorer. This helps you search accurately.

Tips

Use advanced search filters: In Bing Images, click “Filter” to narrow by size, color, type (photo, clipart, etc.), and usage rights. This helps find high-resolution or royalty-free images.
Search by dimensions: In File Explorer, type “width:1920 height:1080” to find images with specific pixel dimensions (requires indexing).
Use tags and metadata: In File Explorer, right-click an image > Properties > Details, and add tags. Then you can search by those tags.
Drag and drop to Bing: Instead of uploading, drag an image file directly onto the Bing Images page to start a visual search.
Keyboard shortcut: In File Explorer, press Ctrl+F to jump to the search box instantly.

Troubleshooting

Search returns no results: Check your spelling, try different keywords, or clear the search box and type a simpler term. If you’re searching for files, ensure the folder isn’t empty and that indexing is enabled (see below).
Bing Visual Search not working: Make sure you’re online and using Edge. Try clearing the browser cache (Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data) or restarting Edge. If the camera icon is missing, update Edge to the latest version.
File Explorer search is slow or incomplete: Windows Search may not have indexed the folder. Go to Settings > Search > Searching Windows, and add the folder to indexed locations. Alternatively, wait for indexing to finish.
Right-click “Search image with Bing” is grayed out: This option only appears for images on web pages, not local files. For local files, use the Bing Images upload method.
Search results show old files: If you recently added images, the index may be outdated. Rebuild the index: Settings > Search > Searching Windows > Advanced Search Indexer Settings > Advanced > Rebuild.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search for images by their content (like a dog) in Windows 10?

Not directly in File Explorer. You can use Bing Visual Search (upload a photo) or use the Cortana search with a description, but it only matches file names and metadata, not the actual image content.

How do I search for images with a specific file type?

In File Explorer, type “ext:.jpg” or “*.png” in the search box. You can also use “ext:jpeg” or “ext:gif” to filter by other formats.

Why does my File Explorer search not find images I know are there?

Windows Search may not have indexed that folder. Add the folder to indexed locations in Settings > Search > Searching Windows, or check if the files are hidden.

Can I reverse image search a picture from my phone on Windows 10?

Yes. Transfer the image to your PC or use the Bing app on your phone. On your PC, go to Bing Images and upload the file from your phone’s folder (e.g., via USB).

Is there a way to search images by date taken?

In File Explorer, type “datetaken:2023” or “datetaken:>2023-01-01” to filter by the date the photo was taken (requires metadata).

Does Windows 10 have a built-in OCR to search text in images?

No, not for search. You can use the Photos app’s text recognition (if available) or a third-party OCR tool, but Windows Search won’t index text inside images.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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