Powertoys: [Launcher, Tracker] doesn't find some apps (file explorer, windows terminal,...)

[olovsson]

Environment

Windows build number: Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19624.1000]
PowerToys version: 0.18
PowerToy module for which you are reporting the bug (if applicable): PowerToys Run

Steps to reproduce

1. enter "file explorer"
2. or "explorer"

Expected behavior

the application "File Explorer" should show up in the result list.
or is it intentionally filtered out?

Actual behavior

1. no results at all
   

2. Internet Explorer shows up
   

Screenshots

[latipun7]

actually I didn't find Windows Terminal too.

[crutkas]

terminal it 100% should. did you install terminal maybe after PT was running? trying to figure out flow

[dimonkov]

Doesn't find Docker for me. The only available results are .lnk files on the desktop and in start menu as well as Dockerfiles in my projects.
Also, typing in Chrome for some reason results in Google Chrome being the 3rd result, and the first one is Postman for some weird reason.

[crutkas]

Doesn't find Docker for me. The only available results are .lnk files on the desktop and in start menu as well as Dockerfiles in my projects.

Also, typing in Chrome for some reason results in Google Chrome being the 3rd result, and the first one is Postman for some weird reason.

Can you give a screenshot?

[dimonkov]

Doesn't find Docker for me. The only available results are .lnk files on the desktop and in start menu as well as Dockerfiles in my projects.
Also, typing in Chrome for some reason results in Google Chrome being the 3rd result, and the first one is Postman for some weird reason.

Can you give a screenshot?

Sure!

The first result's path is to the desktop shortcut, next one to the vscode extension, then there is one pointing to the shortcut in the main(start) menu, and finally a Dockerfile from one of my projects.
No actual docker desktop application here.

Notice how the final result for chrome is also pointing to the .lnk file.
Perhaps it would be useful to add a configuration file similar to .gitignore format, so the users could filter out some directories/filetypes?
Also it doesn't seem that the matcher prioritizes applications instead of random files, which it probably should.

[latipun7]

terminal it 100% should. did you install terminal maybe after PT was running? trying to figure out flow

@crutkas I don't think so. I update terminal from windows store 1st then install PT msi. Otherwise I already restart my windows too, and it still can't find terminal (and ofc windows explorer too).

It only find already running instances.

[askvictor]

I found it doesn't find Chrome when I type "chrome" . If I type "google c" then Chrome comes up. Other applications seem to pick up if the typed word is anywhere inside the application name (e.g. Edge is listed as "Microsoft Edge" but comes up when I type "edg"

[MrZoidberg]

Also it cannot find Docker app

[EdgarVaguencia]

Doesn't find Code

Wox result:

[finish06]

I am experiencing a similar issue. The Launcher is not finding Slack, Discord, Webex Teams. I have manually kicked off a reindex and restart the machine without luck.

[crutkas]

so there are a hybrid of issues inside this bug here.

1. finding explorer, i think this was dedup code that may have been too aggressive.
2. localized file paths <- fixed. that would resolve @dimonkov and some of @EdgarVaguencia issues
3. looks like maybe we can't see Code due to how it was installed on a non-C drive? would love to know the if that has an item on the start menu

[anirudhvee]

Same problem!

[paulviks0x30]

On my machine don't show firefox and whole apps installed using scoop. In menu start everything is ok.

[dustojnikhummer]

terminal it 100% should. did you install terminal maybe after PT was running? trying to figure out flow

@crutkas I don't think so. I update terminal from windows store 1st then install PT msi. Otherwise I already restart my windows too, and it still can't find terminal (and ofc windows explorer too).

It only find already running instances.

My PowertoysRun does find Terminal.
https://i.imgur.com/kMFqSgu.png

[crutkas]

My PowertoysRun does find Terminal.

https://i.imgur.com/kMFqSgu.png

~That is a running instance. ~

Correction: oops the imgur link does, I thought their link was the screenshot you can view on github.

Something is funky here and we need to figure it out. We have some theories.

[dustojnikhummer]

My PowertoysRun does find Terminal.
https://i.imgur.com/kMFqSgu.png

Correction: oops the imgur link does, I thought their link was the screenshot you can view on github. 

Something is funky here and we need to figure it out. We have some theories. 

Sorry for the confusion, I just got used to using imgur everywhere rather than relying on every sites own image upload. Also regarding that other user with Chrome being in the 3rd place, for me it is in 1st place with "Google Chrome.lnk" being 3rd

[dustojnikhummer]

Doesn't find Code

Wox result:

Mine does find VSCode when searching for "Code", it also does find Discord, Teams etc. It does not find explorer (returns IE) but does other system stuff like MSPaint.

Some weird indexing going on there

[crutkas]

There are a hybrid of bugs here. Explorer is a known issue (and logged) from my crappy deduping code. Smarter people on the team is working on.

• The top image bug is fixed and is in 0.18.1
• The interesting thing with the bottom image is their code path is installed on their G drive. In theory that shouldn't matter but a good question then becomes was that installed or just a standalone exe on a removable drive they are leveraging. @EdgarVaguencia how is Code installed on your machine?

[EdgarVaguencia]

the G drive is a partition, the different thing is that i don't create shortcut on start menu, but i add the path in environment variables

[anirudhvee]

Also newly installed applications are not available like in my case Slack.

[dustojnikhummer]

Also newly installed applications are not available like in my case Slack.

I tried installing Slack through Choco and Powertoys Run picked up the .lnk file in my Start Menu. But again, as an LNK, not the "Win32 Application"

[crutkas]

This issue has become a grab bag of bugs sadly. We have a fix for the first issue here at the top, #3969 and created dedicated bugs for others in it. We believe every bug listed here is documented.

[RobbedColek]

It seems that Launcher does not look for applications in your PATH.

Unlike Start Menu which is working just fine.

[crutkas]

fixed in 0.18.2 official release. https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/

[Z1ni]

Docker Desktop isn't showing up on 0.18.2, only the .lnk.

[crutkas]

Docker Desktop isn't showing up on 0.18.2, only the .lnk.

Please file a new issue for tracking

[ekillops]

I have the same issue and am on the latest version. Most of my programs do not appear in the Run launcher but appear in Start menu just fine