Windows 10: Enable or Disable Indexing when on Battery Power in Windows

How to: Enable or Disable Indexing when on Battery Power 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 rebuilding the index when there is user activity, and will automatically continue at full speed when no user activity is detected.

If you like, you can enable a policy to pause indexing when your PC is running on battery power to conserve energy, and automatically resume indexing when your PC is running on AC power next.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable indexing when your PC is running on battery power for all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable indexing when on battery power.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Enable or Disable Indexing when on Battery Power in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Two: To Enable or Disable Indexing when on Battery Power using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Indexing when on battery power disabled









OPTION ONE [/i] To Enable or Disable Indexing when on Battery Power 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 indexing when running on battery power to conserve energy 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 Indexing when on Battery Power
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 Indexing when on Battery Power
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 Indexing when on Battery Power 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

PreventIndexOnBattery 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 Indexing when on Battery Power
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_indexing_when_on_battery_power.reg

Download

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

Disable_indexing_when_on_battery_power.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 Generate Battery Usage Report in Windows 10
• How to Generate Battery Energy Estimation Report in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Battery Saver 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 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
• How to Change Low and Critical Battery Notification, Level, and Action Settings 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

:)

 

Automatically pause indexing when on battery power?

Hi Mike,

We understand that you want your PC to automatically pause indexing when using the battery power.

Windows 10 only has the "Prevent indexing when running on battery power to conserve energy" option in the
Local Group Policy Editor. You can follow these steps on how to enable it:

• Type gpedit.msc in the Cortana search field, then select
  Edit group policy from the results.
  
• Click Local Computer Policy from the left pane, then
  Computer Configuration.
  
• Click Administrative Templates, then Windows Components.
  
• Select Search.
  
• Locate and double-click "Prevent indexing when running on battery power to conserve energy" from the right pane.
  
• Tick Enable, then click OK.
  

Let us know what happens after enabling the above mentioned setting.

Regards.

 

Windows 10 Battery plugged in - not charging on Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro 1370

 

I'm glad it could help. *Smile