Windows 11 Search Won't Find .odt Files in Certain Folders

Neither the Start Menu search nor the File Explorer search are finding the .odt files in certain folders.

They can find the same files if I move them into other folders, but not if I move them back.

They can find other files in the same folders.

This is happening to the files I've been writing, in the project folders with these files and with related notes, so it screws with my work.

I've already tried re-indexing the affected folders by excluding them from search indexing, then including them again, then waiting. I've also checked the advanced indexing prefs and the file types there. I've updated both LibreOffice and Windows 11.

I've tried the search troubleshooter, but it doesn't help.

I've waited a few more days and nights giving Windows more time to update the search index.

The last time I rebuilt the entire search index, it took 75 hours, less than 2 months ago, so that's not an option.

What is going on, and what can I do about it?

(also posted to Reddit r/WindowsHelp.)

Ananiujitha said:

finding the .odt files in certain folders.

Click to expand...

What is the complete folder path of these "certain folders"? Possibly you have the parent folder excluded from search. Settings>Privacy & Security>Search

"C:\Users\[username]\Ongoing Work\Tatchanka\Behind Denikins Lines" And yes, I'd set search preferences to include this folder.

.txt files in the same folder turn up, just not .odt files.

.odt files in other folders with spaces in the paths turn up, so that's not the problem either.

One possibility is that the full path might be exceeding the 260 character limit.

If that's the case, those files will not show up in a search.

I can search for .txt files with longer names in subfolders of the same project folder, so that's not it.