Using the Search Charm in Windows 8 — Video Guide (Historical)

Historical support note: This article describes the original Windows 8 search interface, not the search experience in current Windows versions.

The Windows 8 Search charm provided a central search entry point for apps, settings, and files.

Watch the original video

Open Search

On touch hardware, swipe in from the right edge and select Search.

With a keyboard or mouse, open the Charms bar with Windows key + C and select Search.

Windows 8 also provided keyboard shortcuts for common search scopes, including searching apps, settings, and files directly.

How search was organized

The original Windows 8 release separated results into categories such as Apps, Settings, and Files. Apps could also expose their own searchable content through the Search charm.

That behavior changed during the Windows 8/8.1 era and was replaced entirely in later Windows releases, so this article should be read as a record of the 2012–2013 interface.

Official reference

• Microsoft Windows lifecycle status: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/updates-lifecycle/what-does-it-mean-if-windows-isn-t-supported