You’re not stuck with system defaults, though. You can manage Search Indexing on Windows 11, so the search feature works better for you. This guide will look at different ways you can tweak and manage Search Indexing on Windows 11.
Manage Search Indexing on Windows 11
We have already shown you how to hide files and folders from search. However, there are other aspects you can manage, like switching between Classic or Enhanced indexing, disabling content indexing, or disabling indexing altogether. To manage search indexing on Windows 11, use the following steps:
Note: The Classic option is on by default and only indexes your Documents, Pictures, Music folders, and Desktop. The Enhanced option will index everything on your PC and use more battery power. Also, the PC needs to be plugged in during the initial Enhanced indexing process.
Disable Content Search Indexing
You might want to remove file context indexing for a drive and supported file locations. To disable search indexing for a specific drive, use the following steps:
The drive you selected will no longer have its content indexed. However, it’s important to note that this process can take a while – especially on large drives with tons of data.
Disable Search Indexing Completely
You can also disable search indexing altogether. Many users swear by it to make their systems faster and more reliable, even on SSDs. For example, some people use different search apps like the Everything app from VoidTools and not Windows Search. To disable search indexing altogether, use the following steps:
Search indexing is now disabled, and the service won’t start after your next reboot of Windows 11.
Windows Search
If you’re not on Windows 11 yet and having problems with search, take a look at ways to fix search indexing on Windows 10. You might also want to read about enabling Enhanced Search on Windows 10. Windows 11 has a refreshed user interface and includes a few different ways to search for items. However, you’ll get web results from Bing when searching, which can be annoying when trying to find a specific file. The good news is you can disable web search results on Windows 11. It doesn’t have a huge search box in the left corner like Windows 10, but it does have a Search icon next to the Start button. If you find that to be too much, you can hide the search icon on the taskbar. Comment Name * Email *
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