SharePoint Document Issues

How to Search for Keywords in SharePoint URLs

Emma Brown Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to find a method to search for specific keywords contained within page or file URLs in SharePoint Online.

How to Search for Keywords in SharePoint URLs

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to locate specific files or site pages based on substrings within their web addresses.
Observed behavior: SharePoint Online does not offer an out-of-the-box feature to search directly for keywords within URL strings, requiring alternative workarounds.

Before you start

Ensure you have developer permissions or administrative access to your SharePoint Online environment before attempting to implement custom search web parts.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Microsoft Graph or REST API for Custom Search

Since standard search does not index URL substrings natively, leverage developer tools to create a custom query targeting URL paths.

SharePoint Online does not provide a built-in search filter explicitly for URL substrings. To achieve this functionality, developers must build a custom search web part utilizing SharePoint Search REST APIs or Microsoft Graph.

Define the search scope

Determine if your keyword search needs to span across a specific document library, a site collection, or your entire SharePoint tenant.

Query with Microsoft Graph API

Construct a Graph API query targeting the `driveItem` or `listItem` endpoints. You will need to apply a filter or search parameter against the `webUrl` property of the items.

Develop a custom Web Part

Utilize the SharePoint Framework (SPFx) to build a user-friendly custom search interface that displays the results of your API queries to your team.

Seek implementation guidance

If you require specific code samples, post your requirements on Microsoft Q&A using the 'SharePoint Development' tag to get direct assistance from engineers.

Use Microsoft Graph or REST API for Custom Search

Development Experience Required: Implementing this solution requires knowledge of the SharePoint Framework (SPFx), REST API integration, or Microsoft Graph development.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Boost Your Document Productivity with WPS Office

While complex SharePoint customizations require advanced development, managing your daily documents shouldn't be a struggle. WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, letting you edit your team's files effortlessly.

1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the quick installation process.
3. Open your files: Drag and drop your existing Microsoft Office documents into WPS to continue working with perfect format retention.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Seamless integration with cloud storage services to help you find and manage documents easily.Free and lightweight, ensuring fast startup times and smooth performance on older devices.Familiar, intuitive user interface that requires zero learning curve for Office users.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I search for keywords in SharePoint URLs using the standard search bar?

SharePoint's out-of-the-box search engine is optimized to index document content, metadata, and titles. It does not treat the raw URL string as a fully searchable keyword field by default, meaning partial URL matches often return zero results.

Can I filter SharePoint search results by file path?

Yes, you can use the `Path:` or `Site:` managed properties in the search box (e.g., `Path:"https://domain.sharepoint.com/sites/mysite"`) to restrict results to a specific location. However, this method does not find random substrings inside individual file names within the URL.

Is there a no-code way to search for files without querying URLs?

Currently, there is no direct no-code solution for wildcard URL substring searches in SharePoint Online. The most effective no-code alternative is adding custom metadata tags or columns to your files, making them easily discoverable via standard search.

Document & File Issues