Windows 10: Enable or Disable Advanced Indexing Options in Windows

How to: Enable or Disable Advanced Indexing Options in Windows

How to Enable or Disable Advanced Indexing Options in Windows


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

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable advanced indexing options in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable advanced indexing options.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Enable or Disable Advanced Indexing Options in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Two: To Enable or Disable Advanced Indexing Options using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Advanced Indexing Options enabled and disabled










OPTION ONE [/i] To Enable or Disable Advanced Indexing Options in Local Group Policy Editor


Note Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two below.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Search




3. In the right pane of Search in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Prevent the display of advanced indexing options for Windows Search in the Control Panel policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


5. To Enable Advanced Indexing Options
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.

6. To Disable Advanced Indexing Options
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)




7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.





OPTION TWO [/i] To Enable or Disable Advanced Indexing Options using a REG file


Note The .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

PreventUsingAdvancedIndexingOptions DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable

1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Enable Advanced Indexing Options
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_advanced_indexing_options.reg

Download

3. To Disable Advanced Indexing Options
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_advanced_indexing_options.reg

Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.

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 Enable or Disable Search Indexing in Windows
• How to Create an Indexing Options Shortcut in Windows 10
• How to Reset and Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff 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 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 Turn On or Off Indexing Contents and Properties of Files on a Drive in Windows
• Disable Adding Locations on Removable Drives to Index and Libraries 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

:)

 

Indexing is not working

Hi Doc,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

This issue may occur due to corrupt Windows search files or settings. I suggest you to follow the below method and check if it helps.

Method 1: I would suggest you to run search and indexing troubleshooter
and check. Please follow these steps:

• 
  Type troubleshooting in the search box on taskbar.
  
• 
  Click troubleshooting in the search results.
  
• 
  Click "View all" and then click "Search and Indexing".
  
• 
  Click "Next" and follow on-screen instructions.
  

Method 2: Check if Indexing and Windows Search services are enabled. If not, enable them, if they are already enabled, then disable Windows Search Service and then enable again and restart.

• 
  Press Windows key + R.
  
• 
  Type services in the run box, go to the Windows search services and restart them.
  

Hope it helps.

 

Windows 10 Windows Search / Indexing Stops Completing

Hi,



Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand your concern and will assist you to resolve this issue.

I suggest you to follow the steps below and check if it helps

• Press Windows key + R.
• Type Services.msc In the search box.
• Select Windows Search
• Restart the services and set the service as Automatic

If the issue persist try performing Rebuilding Index again.

To rebuild the index follow the steps below:

• Open the Control Panel from the Start menu.
• Open Indexing Options in the Control Panel.
  
• Select the Advanced button in the Indexing Options window.
• Select Rebuild in the Troubleshooting section of the Advanced Options window.
• Select OK when it asks if you’re sure you want to re-build the search index.

Hope this helps. If the issue remains unresolved, please get back to us and we would be happy to help

 

Indexing options does not respond

Hi, ignore my post right above this. You don't need to post a screenshot.


First, make sure you tried this method:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...-fix-solutions
Look what it says under Windows 10. Follow along that tutorial.
After completion, restart your computer and check Indexing Options



If that didn't work:

I found two other methods for you that you should try. They're a little advanced, yet the steps are very simple to follow since there is picture tutorials of it. But please be very careful and follow the steps exactly and follow along with the pictures!
Go here: Repairing Windows Search Indexer Problems


There are 14 items listed under contents.

Press #12 Indexer Registry Fix.
Follow along with that tutorial EXACTLY with the pictures that help you follow along.
After restarting the computer, check Indexing Options



If that didn't work

Press #13 Delete Search Index Folder.
After restarting the computer, check Indexing Options

 

Indexing off and cannot get it back on

Hi,

Thank you for posting your response.

We appreciate the time and effort that you have invested in to fix the issue. I would suggest that you return the settings back to
Local System Account from This Account under
Log on tab and perform the steps below.

• Rebuild the Windows Search Index and check. Refer to these steps. This can be used if you are able to go through the
  Indexing Options in Control Panel.
• On the search bar type Indexing Options and click on it.
• Click the Advanced button at the bottom of the
  Indexing Options window. This displays a new window titled Advanced Options.
• Click the Index Settings tab if it isn’t selected already.
• Click the Rebuild button to delete and rebuild the file index.
• Click OK to confirm.

Hope this helps

 

Unable to make changes in Indexing Options

Hello,

We suggest to run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter and check if it helps with the indexing issue you are experiencing.

Here's how you may run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter:

• Press the Windows key + X, and then click
  Control Panel.
• Type Troubleshooting, and then click View all.
• Click Search and Indexing.
• Follow the steps provided by the troubleshooter.

Tell us how it goes.

Regards.