Windows 10: Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10

How to: Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10

How to Reset and Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10


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 indexing speed is reduced due to user activity. If the computer is running idle, then the indexing speed will go back to full speed to finish indexing faster.

If you are getting search results that are missing, no longer valid, or incorrect, then the index may not be up to date. You can manually rebuild the index to force it to update now.

This tutorial will show you how to manually reset and rebuild the search index for accurate search results in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to rebuild the index.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Rebuild Search Index in Indexing Options
• Option Two: To Rebuild Search Index using a BAT file
• Option Three: To Reset and Rebuild Search Index using a BAT file

OPTION ONE [/i] To Rebuild Search Index in Indexing Options
1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Indexing Options icon, and close the Control Panel.

2. Click/tap on the Advanced button. (see screenshot below)



3. In the Index Settings tab, click/tap on the Rebuild button under Troubleshooting. (see screenshot below)



4. Click/tap on OK to confirm. (see screenshot below)



5. Indexing will now be in progress. (see screenshots below)

*note Rebuilding the index might take a long time to complete. If needed, you can click/tap on Pause to stop rebuilding the index.



6. When indexing has completed, click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)








OPTION TWO [/i] To Rebuild Search Index using a BAT file

*note The downloadable .bat file below contains these commands that will rebuild the search index.

Code:

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below.
Rebuild_Search_Index.bat

Download
2. Save the .bat file to your desktop.

3. Unblock the .bat file.

4. Right click or press and hold on the .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

5. When prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve.

6. The search index will now start to rebuild in the background.





OPTION THREE [/i] To Reset and Rebuild Search Index using a BAT file

*note The downloadable .bat file below contains these commands that will reset your indexed locations to default and rebuild the search index.

Code:

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below.
Reset_and_Rebuild_Search_Index.bat

Download
2. Save the .bat file to your desktop.

3. Unblock the .bat file.

4. Right click or press and hold on the .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

5. When prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve.

6. The search index will now start to rebuild in the background.

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 Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Windows
• 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 Create a Search Shortcut 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 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

 

Windows 10 search index keeps rebuilding

Greetings,

I have had Windows 8, in which the search index used to complete then soon after its completion, it deletes and rebuilds itself!

I have then upgraded to Windows 10, the search index worked fine for few days, then it again stated to delete itself every few days. I.e. the search builds the index and finishes in couple of days, it says the indexing complete, then after few days it deletes
itself and starts rebuilding the index again, again and so forth.

What could be the problem?

Kind regards,

 

Rebuild Search Index in Windows 10


Hi Shawn, I've not found how to reset Indexing Options to default in the tutorials- may have missed it. This seems comparatively obscure, and is a question asked a number of times when I looked generally on the internet.

I found this:
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/re...-fix-problems/

- in particular

I've not tried it personally as I don't wish to do that- suppose I could on a dummy user account!

Suggest it could be worth adding to the tutorial if valid.

 

Cannot search in a specific folder [Windows 10]

THANKS A LOT !!

This worked like a charm. Now search is working perfectly

Thanks a lot Ruth, really appreciate your help

 

search dosn't work on windows 10

Hi,

Thank you for your interest in Windows 10.

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

Method 1: Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter

This troubleshooter is an automated Windows 10 inbuilt tool which finds and fixes the common issues with the
Search and Indexing feature of Windows 10. Perform these steps to run this tool and check if that helps:

• 
  Press “Windows Logo” + “W” keys from the keyboard.
  
• 
  Type “Troubleshooting” in the search bar and press “ENTER”.
  
• 
  In the “Troubleshooting” window, click on “View All” on the left pane.
  
• 
  Click on “Search and Indexing”.
  
• 
  Click on “Advanced” and then click on “Run as Administrator”.
  
• 
  Click “Next” and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.
  

Method 2

I suggest you to rebuild search index. Follow the steps below:

• Press Windows key +X and click on Control Panel.
• From the Control Panel window select Indexing Options.
• Click the Advanced button. Note: access to this option requires the PC administrator's permissions.
• Select Rebuild. Selecting Rebuild will begin the process of deleting and then rebuilding your PC's search index, remember this is a time consuming process.

Method 3

I suggest you to try to turn Cortana off and then try turning it on back and check. Refer to the steps below to turn Off and On Cortana:

• Open Cortana.
• Click the hamburger button in the top left of the window.
• Go to settings and click on off.
• Follow the same steps to turn it on.
• Check if issue persists.

Hope this information is helpful. Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.