How to use Cortana file finder feature on Windows 10
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Key notes
- Microsoft has just released a new Windows 10 Insider Preview build for those in the Dev Channel.
- Windows 10 users can easily instruct Cortana to find and open files, as we have described below.
- To keep an eye on similar improvements, just bookmark our Windows Insider Program section.
- Microsoft's answer to Apple Siri and Amazon Alexa is quite promising, so find more about Cortana.
Microsoft has just released a new Windows 10 Preview for those on its Windows Insiders program. Surprisingly, it brings a new feature for Cortana, along with the usual fixes.
Cortana fans should know that this feature lets them use the very same digital assistant they’ve known for years to open and find files with ease.
To be more precise, Cortana will help users find files using their voice rather than sifting through documents by typing words.
The advantages of this new feature are obvious. Brandon LeBlanc, program manager for the Windows Insider program, says:
You can now use Cortana on your PCs to translate their thoughts into direct actions to open and find files and save time spent navigating to apps/folders to locate and open files.
How can I use the Cortana file finder feature on Windows 10?
The feature that we are talking about is included in Cortana version number 2.2011.26701.0 or up. That’s available for download in the Windows Insider channels via the Microsoft Store.
Assuming that you run this version already, feel free to ask Cortana to look for files based on parts of file names or on author names. You may find a recently edited file as well (Hey Cortana, find my recent files).
Moreover, you can ask to search for different file types – .txt files, ppt and .pptx ones, .doc and .docx files, and not only. To find a document of a particular type, it’s enough to say: Hey Cortana, find my recent doc files.
If users of a Microsoft account can take advantage of Cortana to find files saved on their computers, enterprise users who sign in to Cortana with their corporate credentials can also search for files saved on SharePoint and OneDrive for Business.
Could this new Cortana feature make you more productive when finding and opening files? Let us know your opinion in the comments area below.
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