Windows finds files even if you don’t know what they’re called: how AI search works on your PC

Thursday, 13 August 2026 at 18:00

Windows vindt bestanden zonder dat je de naam weet zo werkt AI-zoeken op je PC

You remember it was about the spring budget, but not whether the file was plan-definitief.docx, begroting-nieuw.pdf, or versie-7-echt-laatste.pptx. On a Copilot+ PC, Windows can search not just for exact words, but for the meaning behind them.

To do this, Microsoft blends the traditional Windows index with a locally built AI semantic index. That means a search like “pasta” can surface a photo or document about lasagna.

There’s a big catch for Dutch users: as of August 12, 2026, Microsoft hasn’t optimized enhanced semantic search for Dutch. With Dutch queries and Dutch-language files, you’ll usually see traditional results. English queries work better for supported content.

What is semantic search?

Traditionally, Windows looks for a literal match in:

the file name;
the file path;
properties like author and date;
words inside indexed documents.

Semantic search also tries to understand what a file or image represents. Your search term doesn’t have to appear exactly in the file name.

Useful natural-language examples include:

presentation about spring marketing budget;
spreadsheet with quarterly sales;
photo of pasta at a restaurant;
summer picnic pictures;
change my theme.

The upgraded search works in Windows Search on the taskbar, in File Explorer, and for specific queries in Settings. The local AI models run on the Copilot+ PC’s NPU, so local searches can work without an internet connection.

Want to know why this kind of machine has different hardware first? Read what makes an AI PC different from a regular laptop.

What do you need?

You need a current Windows 11 installation on a true Copilot+ PC. The Copilot+ label means, among other things, the computer has an NPU capable of at least 40 TOPS.

Microsoft’s improved Windows Search is available on Copilot+ PCs with supported Snapdragon, AMD, and Intel processors. A standard Windows 11 laptop with only the Copilot app doesn’t automatically become a Copilot+ PC and won’t get the same local semantic index.

First install all available Windows updates. Then check under Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows to see if indexing is complete. Names may vary slightly by Windows version; searching for “indexing options” typically takes you to the same settings.

Choose which folders Windows may index

Windows offers two main modes.

Classic

This mode indexes Documents, Pictures, Music, and the Desktop by default. You can add extra locations manually.

It’s often the best balance if you mostly keep files in the standard folders.

Enhanced

This mode indexes almost the entire PC, so it can find files in more folders. The trade-off is higher CPU, battery, and storage use while building and updating the index.

Microsoft recommends plugging in your Copilot+ PC during the first indexing. That initial pass can take a few hours. After that, Windows mostly processes new and changed files in the background.

Which documents and images get semantic support

For the enhanced index, Microsoft lists these document formats:

.txt;
.pdf;
.docx and .doc;
.rtf;
.pptx and .ppt;
.xls and .xlsx.

For images:

.jpg and .jpeg;
.png;
.gif;
.bmp;
.ico.

That doesn’t guarantee every file will be understood perfectly. A poorly scanned PDF, an image without a clear subject, or a document in an unsupported language can yield weaker results.

In the Microsoft Photos app, you can also describe local, indexed photos in plain language. Microsoft says this semantic photo feature does not collect, process, or store biometric data, even if people or faces appear in a photo.

The key limitation for Dutch files

Microsoft is currently optimizing the semantic index for:

English;
French;
German;
Spanish;
Japanese;
Simplified Chinese.

Dutch isn’t on that list.

According to Microsoft, a PC set to another system language can still deliver better results when both your query and the indexed content are in a supported language. So on a Dutch Windows install, you can use an English prompt to semantically search English documents or visually recognizable photos.

For a Dutch report and a Dutch query, Windows falls back to the traditional, literal index. In that case, search for words likely to appear verbatim in the file—think a project name, client, month, or a distinctive sentence.

In short, the feature doesn’t truly “understand” a Dutch documents folder yet. Leaving that out makes the capability sound broader than Microsoft officially supports.

How to get better results

Save key files in an indexed folder.
Wait until the initial indexing completes.
For now, use a supported language for semantic search—usually English.
Describe the topic, file type, or visible scene.
If results are thin, try a literal word from the document.
Search in File Explorer if you already know the likely folder.
Check whether the file type’s content is being indexed, not just properties.

For a presentation on solar panels, start with: presentation about solar energy. If that misses, try an exact project name or a sentence that’s probably on a slide.

Does the index really stay on your PC?

Microsoft says data in the semantic index is stored locally on the PC and isn’t retained by Microsoft or used to train AI models. On a supported Windows 365 Cloud PC, the index stays within that Cloud PC’s storage, according to Microsoft.

That doesn’t mean the index is invisible to every app. Microsoft warns that installed apps may be able to read index data. Only install trusted software and avoid indexing folders that don’t need to be searchable.

In Advanced Indexing Options, you can:

exclude specific folders;
disable certain file types;
index properties only instead of full content;
rebuild the index.

Cloud search results and web search history are separate. If you enable OneDrive or web results, those may require an account, an internet connection, and different privacy settings.

Not the same as Windows Recall

Enhanced Windows Search indexes selected files and their contents. Recall, when you deliberately enable it, periodically snapshots what appears on your screen.

You don’t need Recall to semantically search existing files. That distinction matters for privacy. In our separate guide, you’ll find what Windows Recall stores and how to turn it off.

Frequently asked questions

Does AI search work on every Windows 11 PC?

No. The enhanced semantic index targets Copilot+ PCs with suitable NPU hardware and up-to-date Windows releases. Traditional Windows Search still works on standard PCs.

Can I use Dutch queries?

You can, but as of August 12, 2026, Dutch isn’t optimized for enhanced semantic search. Windows will typically revert to the traditional literal method.

Are my documents sent to Microsoft?

Microsoft says the semantic index is stored locally and isn’t used to train AI models. Cloud and web search features are separate services and may process data differently.

Does indexing drain the battery?

Scanning the entire PC can use extra CPU and battery, especially during the first index. Microsoft recommends plugging in. The classic mode generally uses fewer system resources than the expanded mode.