Frequently Asked Questions
How to Find Files by Date in Windows 11 and 10
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To find files by date in Windows 11 or Windows 10, open File Explorer, select a folder, and enter datemodified:today in the search box. To search a date range, enter two periods between the dates, for example datemodified:10/01/2026..10/28/2026 for October 1 through October 28, 2026, using US date formatting.
A date filter is useful when you remember working on a document but cannot recall its name. This guide shows you how to search by date modified, choose a custom date range, find newly created files, and narrow the results to a particular file type.
How to find files by date in File Explorer
Start in the folder most likely to contain the file, such as Documents or Downloads. A smaller search area makes the results easier to review and can save time.
- Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
- Open the folder or drive you want to search.
- Click the search box in the upper-right corner of the window.
- Enter a date filter, such as
datemodified:last week. - Press Enter and wait for the search to finish.
- Switch to Details view and check the Date modified column to compare the results.
File Explorer normally searches the selected folder and its subfolders. If you do not know where the file is stored, start from This PC for a broader search, although this can take longer.
This article is also available in German
You can also read the original German version of this guide on Windows-FAQ.de.
Diesen Artikel auf Deutsch lesenDate search filters you can copy
The following examples use English Windows search keywords. Enter one complete query in the File Explorer search box, including the colon after datemodified.
| Find files modified during | Search query |
|---|---|
| Today | datemodified:today |
| Yesterday | datemodified:yesterday |
| This week | datemodified:this week |
| Last week | datemodified:last week |
| This month | datemodified:this month |
| Last month | datemodified:last month |
| This year | datemodified:this year |
| Last year | datemodified:last year |
Relative filters such as last week refer to calendar periods. If you need a specific start and end date, enter a custom range instead.
Search for files within a specific date range
To find files modified between two dates, place two periods between the start date and end date. The range includes both dates, so the following example covers October 1 through October 28, 2026.
datemodified:10/01/2026..10/28/2026This example uses the US date format, MM/DD/YYYY.
Replace the example dates with your own and keep the two periods in the middle.
Use the date format configured in Windows
Numeric dates depend on your Windows regional settings. If your PC uses the UK format, DD/MM/YYYY, enter the same October date range like this:
datemodified:01/10/2026..28/10/2026The difference matters because a date such as 10/01/2026 can mean October 1 or January 10. Check the date format shown in Windows before copying a numeric query from another region.
Find files modified on one particular day
Use a single date when you know the exact day you last saved the file. For October 15, 2026, the US-format query is:
datemodified:10/15/2026On a PC using DD/MM/YYYY, enter datemodified:15/10/2026 instead. You do not need to specify a time when you want to search the whole day.
Find files modified before or after a date
Comparison operators let you search without supplying both ends of a range. The examples below use US date formatting.
| Search goal | Search query |
|---|---|
| Before October 1, 2026 | datemodified:<10/01/2026 |
| After October 15, 2026 | datemodified:>10/15/2026 |
| On or after October 1, 2026 | datemodified:>=10/01/2026 |
Use >= when you want to include the starting date. For a closed period, such as one particular month, the two-date range is usually easier to read and check.
Use the Date modified filter in Windows 11
You can also select a date filter through File Explorer’s search controls. This is convenient when a preset period is enough and you prefer to choose it from a menu.
- Open the folder you want to search.
- Enter a search term or file pattern, such as
*.pdf, and press Enter. - Open Search options on the toolbar.
- Select Date modified and choose an available period.
- Check whether the search includes subfolders or only the current folder.
Windows 10 and older File Explorer versions may show these controls in a Search tab or a different menu. If your interface does not match an older screenshot, enter the complete date query directly in the search box; a calendar pop-up is not required.
Date modified vs. date created: which should you use?
Use datemodified: when you remember when you last changed or saved a file. Use datecreated: when you want to search by the file’s creation timestamp.
| Date property | What it describes | Example query |
|---|---|---|
| Date modified | The file’s most recent modification | datemodified:yesterday |
| Date created | When the file was created on its current file system | datecreated:yesterday |
To find files created during a particular period, apply the same range syntax to datecreated:. This example uses US dates for October 1 through October 28, 2026:
datecreated:10/01/2026..10/28/2026Date created does not necessarily tell you when the original document was first written. For a file copied from another location, the creation timestamp can describe the copy, so compare both date fields when the results seem unexpected.
Combine a date filter with a file type
If a date search returns too many items, add a file extension pattern. Put a space between the file pattern and the date filter to apply both conditions.
| What you want to find | Search query |
|---|---|
| PDF files modified last week | *.pdf datemodified:last week |
| DOCX documents modified this month | *.docx datemodified:this month |
| XLSX spreadsheets modified yesterday | *.xlsx datemodified:yesterday |
Choose the extension that matches the file you need, such as *.doc for an older Word document. If you find the document but no longer have Word installed, our guide to free word processors for Windows explains suitable alternatives for opening and editing it.
Why is File Explorer not finding files by date?
An empty result list can mean that the folder, date format, or timestamp does not match your search. Work through these checks before changing Windows search settings.
Check the folder and search scope
Make sure you started in the correct folder or drive and included subfolders where needed. If the location is uncertain, repeat the search from This PC or search likely folders such as Documents and Downloads separately.
Check the query and regional format
A range needs two periods, and numeric dates must match your regional settings. Try datemodified:today in a folder containing a file you know you saved today to help separate a date-format problem from a broader search issue.
The English keywords in this guide are intended for an English Windows interface. If Windows uses another display language, use its localized search terms or select a filter from the search menu.
Compare the actual file timestamps
Right-click a known file and open Properties to check its Created and Modified timestamps. A file you edited last week and saved again today has a current modification date of today, so a last-week filter may no longer find it.
Allow time for searching and indexing
Large folders and searches outside indexed locations can take longer to complete. If searches remain slow or incomplete, open Windows search settings and review the indexed locations and indexing status.
Depending on your Windows version, the relevant Settings page may be called Search or Searching Windows. Adding a frequently searched folder to the index can improve search speed, but indexing needs time to finish.
Practical tip: narrow the search in stages
If you only remember working on a report sometime last month, start with datemodified:last month in Documents. Check the results before adding a file extension or shortening the date range.
This approach helps you avoid excluding the file with an incorrect early assumption. For example, a document you remember as a Word file might actually have been saved as a PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Can I search by date without knowing the file name?
Yes, a date filter works without a file name. Choose the folder or drive to search, enter a query such as datemodified:last month, and then review or narrow the results.
Does a date search show every day a file was edited?
No, datemodified: searches the file’s current modification timestamp. It does not provide a history of previous edits, so a later save can move the file outside the period you are searching.
Is Date modified the same as the date a photo was taken?
No, the file’s modification date and a photo’s Date taken are different properties. If you want to organize pictures by when they were photographed, check Date taken rather than assuming Date modified or Date created represents the shooting date.
