Windows 10 has another feature of Windows 7 which is called Indexing Options. As you had noticed in windows 7 that indexing options was created for a faster way to get the search result.  So indexing is definitely an important aspect of Windows search. Basically indexing options deploy a search service in the background which is Searchindexer.exe. This service will allow the indexing options quietly in the background and if it needs to rebuild the indexed files, this service will help. By default the indexed files are stored in the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft, but users can configure manually on other location. Users are completely free to configure the indexing options with file types, extensions, properties, file content and many more. Further in this post you will learn how to index encrypted files, rebuild the indexed files, and check the files types and more.

What is indexing options?

Indexing option is a search service on Microsoft Operating systems, which includes Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016. Basically Indexing options create an index of the files on your computer for better piece of searching performance and corporate computer networks. By default all drives and files are configured for indexing options because that time it would impact the performance of Windows.

How to configure indexing Options in Windows 10?

Step 1. Click at the search box on the taskbar, then type indexing, indexing options will appear. Now, click on it to open indexing Options in Windows 10.

Step 2. When the indexing window opens, you can see the folders which are indexed by default. In order to add a specific folder to the indexing, select modify. In my example I will index software folder. T do that I will simply select the Drive F, then I will check software. Once you check a folder, it will be add to the indexing options on the summary of selected locations.

Step 3. Now the Pause button at the bottom of the windows is now enabled, which indicates that indexing is running. This allows you to temporarily pause indexing.

Indexing Options doesn’t end here, it has an advanced options where you can index encrypted files, and all file formats which are installed on your system. All though by default all the installed extensions are indexed but an extension file wasn’t available you can add that manually. From advanced options of indexing you have to right to treat similar words with diacritics as different words. While enabling this feature for the indexing options, it will warn you that the indexing will rebuild. Remember by the default the Indexed files are stored in the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft, but you can configure it anywhere you want. If sometime happens that the start menu is not working perfectly and the apps are disappeared. For better understanding look at the screenshot.

If you face this error simple rebuild the indexing options.

How to Turn On or Off to Index Encrypted Files in Windows 10?

Step 1. In order enable to index encrypted files, open indexing options. If you don’t how, please read How to configure indexing Options in Windows 10.

Step 2. Once you opened it, select advanced, when the advanced options opens, check the Index Encrypted Files. Once you checked that you will face this warning.

Step 3. Select continue and the then the encrypted will be indexed. Once you clicked continue the indexed files will rebuild.

How to disable indexing windows 10?

Step 1. Open the search box on the taskbar and search there for administrative Tools. When it opens, double on the services to open services. You can also open it with dialog box by typing the services.msc.

Step 2. Now find a service called Windows Search. The Easiest way to find a service, simply type the first letter of that service. Like it starts with “w”, so press “w” on the keyboard until you reach the Windows search service.

Step 3. When you find the service, right click on it and select properties then from startup type select disabled. If the service was running, simply stop it, then start the disable process. Once you did that select apply to bring changes to stop indexing.

Now go ahead and check how your system speed works then before?