Clever Clogs tip # 760
2 November 2025


Tag your documents for easy retrieval (Windows 11) *

Each month, I share a tip to help you get more out of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. (They used to be weekly, but let's be honest, life's too short!) Here's your tip for November 2025... Find what you're looking for!

Last month, I delivered two training sessions focused on managing information overload and helping people find what they need, when they need it. So, if you've ever spent ages searching for a file you know you saved somewhere, tagging can help. It's like putting a digital label on your documents, helping you and your colleagues find them quickly, without the need for lots and lots of subfolders. (With thanks to Sara for sparking this tip during our discussion about displaying the name of the person who saved a file.)

Here's how:

  1. Right-click the file you want to tag and select Properties. (Or press Alt + Enter)
  2. On the Details tab click the Tags field and type the keyword(s), separated by semicolons.
  3. Click OK.

Bonus tip: you can also add tags straight from the Save As dialog box...

You can now search using tags - no need for endless subfolders. Just type tag:overload (or whatever keyword you used) into the search bar in File Explorer. (CTRL + E anyone?)

You can also display the Tags column. Simply right-click one of the column headings and select Tags. This way you can also sort your files by Tags for quick access.

Hope that was helpful!

By the way, I'd really appreciate your input...Since 2015, I've reviewed each year's tips to find out which ones resonated most with you, my loyal subscribers and post them on my website.

Would any of you like to nominate your favourite(s) from tips 750 - 761? (Yes, today's counts even though it isn't in the screenshot below ;) I'm looking for a top three tips of 2025, so feel free to pick from any of the eleven I've shared so far this year.

That collection will feature as December's tip - number 761 - since you'll no doubt be busy shining at end-of-year celebrations.

Related tips

  1. Quickly find and open your files or programs - wherever they are: tip_602.php
  2. Display the name of the person who saved a file: tip_602.php
  3. Set all folders on your computer to match the current folder's view settings: tip_602.php
  4. Find files or folders that contain certain words in its title: tip_421.php
  5. How to find items on a messy desktop or in a large folder: tip_375.php

Last month's posts on LinkedIn (newest first)

  1. Double-click a floating PivotTable Field List to dock it
  2. Today in History - 29 October
  3. Having trouble getting your line manager to read important emails?
  4. Training next door to a flu jab clinic today
  5. Find hidden rows and columns in Excel
  6. From Comment to Collaboration
  7. Managing multiple inboxes in Outlook?
  8. Age is just a number. Curiosity is timeless.
  9. Got some training budget to use before year-end?

K.

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* Unless stated otherwise this tip is written for Microsoft 365 desktop apps and Windows 11 users, but might also be useful in Office 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019.