SharePoint Document Issues

Fix SharePoint Server 2019 Modern Search Not Finding Media Files

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are unable to locate specific media files (such as FLV, MP3, and MKV) using the modern search feature in SharePoint Server 2019, even though classic search finds them.

Fix SharePoint Server 2019 Modern Search Not Finding Media Files

Product: SharePoint Server 2019
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Searching for multimedia files within an on-premises SharePoint Server environment utilizing the Modern Search interface.
Observed behavior: Modern Search returns no results for FLV, MP3, and MKV file types, whereas crawling and the Classic Search experience operate correctly and display the files.

Before you start

Verify your SharePoint Server 2019 crawl logs to ensure the media files are actively being crawled, and confirm that the Classic Search experience is successfully returning these items.

Solution 1Recommended

Use SharePoint Classic Search as a Workaround

Since the indexing and crawling processes work correctly, switching to the classic search experience allows you to reliably locate your media files while avoiding the modern search limitation.

SharePoint Server 2019 on-premises environments sometimes struggle to map certain media result types in the modern UI. Utilizing the classic search center bypasses this UI limitation.

Navigate to the Classic Search page

Access your SharePoint Server 2019 site and click the link to the classic enterprise search center, typically provided by your SharePoint administrator.

Enter your search query

Type the exact name or associated keywords of the FLV, MP3, or MKV file into the classic search box and press Enter.

Locate and access your files

Review the search results. Because the files are properly crawled, they will appear accurately in the classic search results page for you to view or download.

Use SharePoint Classic Search as a Workaround

Solution 2

Consult the Microsoft Q&A Forum for On-Premises Search

Because this issue pertains specifically to an on-premises SharePoint Server 2019 modern search behavioral gap rather than SharePoint Online, reaching out to Microsoft specialists is recommended.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does classic search find my media files while modern search fails?

In SharePoint Server 2019, modern search and classic search rely on different result rendering and display templates. Certain legacy or less common media files, such as FLV and MKV, may lack the built-in modern result types needed to display correctly in the new UI, even when successfully crawled.

Does this modern search issue also affect SharePoint Online?

No, this specific behavior where modern search fails to return correctly crawled MP3, FLV, and MKV files is largely isolated to the on-premises version of SharePoint Server 2019.

Can I permanently fix modern search to include these files?

Currently, it is considered a known limitation within the SharePoint Server 2019 on-premises environment. Administrators may need to create custom result types or wait for specific Microsoft patches, which is why utilizing classic search is the most practical immediate workaround.

Document & File Issues