Windows 10: Allow File Contents and Properties to be Indexed on a Drive in Windows

How to: Allow File Contents and Properties to be Indexed on a Drive in Windows

How to Turn On or Off Indexing Contents and Properties of Files on a Drive in Windows


Information By default, Windows will use the file types (extensions), file properties, and file contents you want indexed.

By default, Windows will index the contents and properties of files on any connected drives with a ReFS file system.

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off to allow files on a drive to have contents and file properties indexed for all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to turn on or off allowing files on a drive to have contents and file properties indexed.


Here's How:

1. Open This PC in File Explorer (Win+E).

2. Right click or press and hold on a drive you want to turn on or off indexing its files contents and properties, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)



3. In the General tab, check (on - default) or uncheck (off) the Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties box for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)





4. Select (dot) Apply changes to drive <letter>, subfolders and files, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)





5. Click/tap on Continue to approve. (see screenshot below)



6. If prompted with an Error Applying Attributes, click/tap on Ignore All. (see screenshot below)


Note This error indicates that some files are currently in use, and cannot have the set content indexed attribute applied to them.

This usually happens on the Windows drive (C.




7. Windows will now start applying attributes to the files. (see screenshot below)




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Search in File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Change Search Options in Windows 10
• How to Add a File Attributes context menu in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Search Indexing in Windows
• How to Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Windows
• How to Create an Indexing Options Shortcut in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Locations for Search Index in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Excluded Folders for Search Indexer in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations in Windows
• How to Enable or Disable Advanced Indexing Options in Windows
• How to Add or Remove File Types for Search Index in Windows 10
• How to Change Storage Location of Search Index in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off to Index Encrypted Files in Windows 10
• How to Reset and Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Indexing when on Battery Power in Windows
• How to Turn On or Off Enhanced Mode for Search Indexer in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Search Indexer Respect Device Power Mode Settings in Windows 10

:)

 

Windows Search and - allow contents on this drive to be indexed

Hello Mike,

Unchecking the box will just not have the drive's content included in the index. You will still be able to perform a search, but it just won't use the index.

Allow File Contents and Properties to be Indexed on a Drive in Windows | Tutorials

 

understanding "Allow this file to have contents indexed in addition to file properties"

I would like to understand exactl what the "Allow this file to have contents indexed in addition to file properties" does. The first time I've heard of it was when I tried to fix the Outlook 2016 search and someone suggested on some site to check this
on the .pst and .ost files. If I do that, then what would be the point of checking "Microsoft Outlook" in the index options? Can anyone explain to me the difference between the two? If both Microsoft Outlook is checked and "Allow this file to have contents
indexed..." is checked in the properties window of the e-mail files, then should that mean that Windows indexes the e-mails twice?

 

understanding "Allow this file to have contents indexed in addition to file properties"

Hi,

This option enables the search engine to look inside the files and index their contents. This allows you to search and to get results based on what might be inside a file. Without indexing the contents, you could only search for the file properties itself,
like the name or the date it was created, but nothing inside.

Let us know if you have other questions.

 

indexing of files

Hi,

Indexing helps you speed up file searches. However, if you would like to have it turned off, you may follow these steps:

• Open File Explorer.
• Right-click on one of your system drives.
• Select Properties.
• On the General tab, uncheck Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties.
• Click Apply > select where you want to apply the changes >
  OK.

Feel free to post back should you need further assistance.

 

Excel 2016 and O365 Excel file contents do not index when saving to a network drive

Hello Jon Hof,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

I would suggest you in Rebuilding Windows 10 Indexing Options by following the steps mentioned below:

• Open Indexing Options from
  Control panel.
  
• Click on Modify and put a check mark on the required network drive and press
  OK.
  
• Click on Advanced, select
  File types and select Index Properties and File contents. Click on
  OK.
  

Hope it helps.

Let us know if you got the help you needed by clicking 'Yes or No'.

Mala.S

Microsoft Community – Moderator