Rebuilding the Search Index

by Barry Dysert
(last updated April 24, 2017)

You may occasionally find yourself wanting to rebuild the search index (e.g., if it's very large and you remove a big chunk of indexes, or if it gets corrupt). To rebuild the search index, follow these steps:

  1. Press the Windows key. Windows displays the Start menu with the insertion point blinking in the Search box.
  2. Type "index" (without the quotes) and press Enter. Windows displays the Indexing Options dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

    3. Figure 1. The Indexing Options dialog box.

  3. Click the Advanced button. Windows displays the Advanced Options dialog box.
  4. Make sure the Index Settings tab is displayed. (See Figure 2.)

    5. Figure 2. The Index Settings tab of the Advanced Options dialog box.

  5. Click the Rebuild button. Windows asks you if you are sure you want to perform the action.
  6. Click OK to start the rebuild.
  7. Close any open dialog boxes.

The work involved in rebuilding a search index is done behind the scenes and could take a while to complete. While Windows is rebuilding, you can work with other programs just fine, but you won't be able to do a search and get any meaningful results.

 This tip (12936) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Barry Dysert

Barry has been a computer professional for over 30 years, working in different positions such as technical team leader, project manager, and software developer.  He is currently a senior software engineer with an emphasis on developing custom applications under Microsoft Windows. ...

MORE FROM BARRY

How to Find Apps Faster

This tip reveals a little-known trick that enables you to move around your Start menu a little faster. The result is getting ...

Discover More

Adjusting Display Magnification

Sometimes our eyes fail us, or what we're trying to read is just too small to make out comfortably. Fortunately, Windows ...

Discover More

Using the Device Manager

If you want granular control over all the devices on your system, getting familiar with the device manager is time well ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Adding Locations to the Search Index

You can fine-tune Indexed Searches by adding locations to the search index. This tip tells you how.

Discover More

Customizing File Explorer's Display

File Explorer is a powerful utility to use for navigating among your files and folders. And it can be customized a great deal ...

Discover More

Understanding ZIP Folders

Need to move a lot of information to someone else? The answer may be to store that information in a ZIP folder. Here's the ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 7 - 0?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2017 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.