Exclude a subfolder or more in a Windows Explorer search operation


Using Windows Explorer to search your files you can exclude a particular sub-folder, using the -folder: directive.

For example, to exclude the “Jazz” folder while you search your “Music” folder, write -folder:Jazz

You can also search excluding all sub-folders, if you need to limit your operation to the current folder, impeding Windows from searching recursively. To achieve this, use again the -folder directive, this time using a wildcard, e.g. -folder: “Music\*”

To search only a sub-folder, while you are in the parent folder use the “folder” directive followed by the sub-folder name, e.g. folder:\Jazz

* Check also this list with the best free file and folder search tools, simple and advanced.