Windows 10: Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Windows

How to: Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Windows

How to Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Windows


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

The index uses the Windows Search service and runs as the Searchindexer.exe process in the background. The index will automatically rebuild and update for changes made to the included locations since the last index rebuild to increase search result accuracy.

By default, the search indexer backoff feature will reduce indexing speed while rebuilding the index when there is user activity, and will automatically continue at full speed when no user activity is detected.

If indexer backoff is disabled, indexing will continue at full speed even when system activity is high.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable indexer backoff used to reduce indexing speed when there is user activity in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable indexer backoff.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Two: To Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Indexed backoff enabled and disabled











OPTION ONE [/i] To Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff 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 Disable indexer backoff 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 Indexer Backoff
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 Indexer Backoff
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 Indexer Backoff 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

DisableBackoff 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 Indexer Backoff
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_Indexer_Backoff.reg

Download

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

Disable_Indexer_Backoff.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 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 Turn On or Off Indexing Contents and Properties of Files on a Drive in Windows
• 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
• 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

:)

 

Indexer Backoff - Enable or Disable in Windows 10?


Is there a way to do this in windows 10?

Indexer Backoff - Enable or Disable in Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

Can I index a folder quickly in Windows 10?

Hello Antonio, *Smile

You could disable the indexer backoff to allow indexing to finish faster.

Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Windows

However, if you always want accurate search results, I would recommend to disable search indexing. It will take a bit longer to get search results without indexing, but they will always be accurate.

Enable or Disable Search Indexing in Windows

 

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.

 

Can I index a folder quickly in Windows 10?

Antonio,

Part of the reason indexing can take a long time is that it pauses during any user activity.

You can stop it pausing using the procedure in Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff - TenForumsTutorials

Denis

 

Indexer Backoff - Enable or Disable in Windows 10?

also found another way to do it:

http://danielsmedegaardbuus.dk/2008-...youre-working/