Advanced Search Help

Summary: Knowledge Search has several advanced search options to help you find specific content.

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Instructions

How to search Dell support

Duration: 01:17
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How to search on Dell

Tip 1: Start with the basics.
No matter what you are looking for, start with a simple search like How to clean my laptop? You can always add a few descriptive words if necessary. If you are looking for a manual or item for a specific product, add the product. For example, the Dell Latitude 5420 Manual or How to install support assist?

Tip 2: Search using your voice.
Tired of typing? To search with your voice, tap the microphone icon.

Tip 3: Use natural language or phrase.
Use natural language in your Dell search. Dell’s search engine filters out the "common" words that are not necessary and pick up important terms like products and other defining words.

Tip 4: Rephrase your query for better results.
If you are not finding the right information, you might try using different words in your search. It is also possible that what you are searching for is too specific or too broad.

Tip 5: Use special search engine operators.
Operators are special words and symbols that you can include in your searches so they return more relevant results.

 

Advanced Search Feature Description Example
Booleans AND (in uppercase) means that both items must appear in the search results.


OR (in uppercase) means that either search term must appear in the results.		 Latitude AND audio
(shows results containing both Latitude and the word audio.)

Audio OR Power
(shows results that contain either audio or power)

(Audio OR Power) AND Unity
(Shows results that contain either audio or power but also unity.)
Exclude: NOT Excludes a specific term or phrase. No power NOT Latitude
(shows results for no power but not containing Latitude.)
Wildcards (*) The asterisk (*) can be used as a wildcard for any number of characters. Power*
(shows results including PowerEdge, PowerProtect, so forth.)
Quotes Quotes indicate exact match to the terms and case. "No power"
(shows results that have this exact phrase no power)
Date/Time Allows filtering of content by a specific day, time, or period of time. @date=today
@date=today-1d
@date=yesterday
@date=yesterday-1d
(Shows results that are created or modified today/yesterday or between today/yesterday and an optional duration number of days.)

@date<yesterday+1d
@date<yesterday-1d
(value in seconds (s), minutes (m), hours (h), days (d), months (mo), or years (y), is added or subtracted from the date operator (now, today, or yesterday))
Article Properties
Article Number: 000204470
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 10 Feb 2025
Version:  8
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