EverythingToolbar: Search Files from the Windows Taskbar

Overview

EverythingToolbar connects the Windows taskbar to Everything, a file-search application. It provides a taskbar search box or icon-based launcher, making indexed file searches accessible from the place Windows users already start tasks.

It is intended for people who use Everything and want its search results and filters closer at hand. Windows 11 supports an embedded taskbar search box, while Windows 10 users can use the deskband integration or launcher.

Key Features

• Search files and folders through Everything from the taskbar.
• Choose between a Windows 11 taskbar search box and a taskbar icon.
• Use native deskband integration on Windows 10, or with ExplorerPatcher and StartAllBack.
• Apply built-in filters or synchronize custom filters from Everything.
• Toggle case matching, whole-word matching, path matching, and regular expressions.
• Create custom file actions, including rules based on file types and regular expressions.
• Navigate results with keyboard shortcuts, open containing folders, and copy full paths.
• Preview files through QuickLook or Seer integration.

Use Cases

• Windows users who frequently locate files and want to search without opening Everything separately.
• People who use Windows 11 and prefer a search field integrated into the taskbar.
• Windows 10 users who want a taskbar deskband for quick access to file search.
• Power users who rely on custom Everything filters, search flags, or file-opening actions.

Project Facts

• Language: C#
• License: NOASSERTION
• Stars: 14.8k
• Forks: 565
• Topics: deskband, everything, everything-search, search-interface, taskbar, taskbar-application, toolbar, windows, windows-taskbar, wpf
• Archived: No

Getting Started

Install from GitHub Releases, or use winget:

winget install srwi.everythingtoolbar.launcher

You need Windows 10 or 11, .NET Desktop Runtime 8.0 or later, and Everything 1.4.1 or later running. See the README for setup details and the deskband installation option.

Alternatives

• vicinae: Vicinae is a standalone command palette for app search and desktop utilities, rather than a Windows taskbar interface to Everything’s file index.

Considerations

• This is a Windows-only integration, not a replacement for Everything itself.
• Everything must be installed and running. The Lite version of Everything is not supported.
• The project requires .NET Desktop Runtime 8.0 or later.
• Windows 11 taskbar search-box integration and deskband setup differ by Windows version and configuration. Deskband use on Windows 11 is recommended only with ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack.
• The repository reports its license as NOASSERTION, so license terms are not established by the supplied repository metadata.