I often find myself complaining about how slow Windows Search can be when displaying results. It frequently seems to prioritize web searches over local commands or files stored directly on the device. However, you can significantly improve Windows Search performance by fine-tuning your Indexing Settings—a powerful feature already built into Windows.
What is Indexing?
At its core, indexing is the process of using metadata to organize items in a searchable format. Instead of scanning every single file in your database for every query, the system refers to a pre-built map. Think of it like the index or table of contents in a book; instead of flipping through every page to find a specific chapter, you can jump straight to the page number listed in the index. Windows Indexing works on the same principle, categorizing your files to ensure near-instant search results.
Classic vs. Enhanced Mode
Windows 11 enables search indexing by default. You can find these settings under Settings > Privacy & Security > Searching Windows.
Classic Mode: This is the default setting. In this mode, Windows only indexes specific folders: Documents, Pictures, Desktop, and Music. If you store your files in these locations, they will appear in search results much faster than items stored elsewhere.
Tip: Within Classic mode, you can click "Customize search locations" to open the legacy Indexing Options from the Control Panel. Here, you can manually add specific folders that you want the system to track.
Enhanced Mode: If you want your entire PC to be indexed, you can switch to this advanced setting. By default, Enhanced indexing primarily runs when your PC is plugged in to conserve battery, and it allows you to manually exclude specific folders you don’t need.
The Trade-offs: Storage and Performance
While Enhanced indexing makes searching faster, there is a reason it isn’t the default: it consumes storage space. Microsoft states that an index typically occupies about 10% of the total size of the indexed content. For example, if you have 1TB of data, the index could take up to 100GB. For devices with limited storage, losing 100GB of space without warning would be a major frustration. The Redmond-based tech giant also notes that in some cases, the index can even exceed that 10% threshold.
Furthermore, maintaining an index requires system resources. The initial indexing process can take several hours. Even after that, the system must constantly work in the background to update the index whenever you move or delete files. To use the book analogy: if a publisher decides to start a book on page 2 instead of page 1, they must update every single page number in the table of contents. This continuous background task is why Classic mode is the default; it strikes a better balance between search speed and system performance.
Semantic Indexing on Copilot+ PCs
For those using Copilot+ PCs, Windows now utilizes Semantic Indexing alongside traditional methods. This means search results can include items that are "conceptually related" to your query, rather than just exact keyword matches. This is powered by on-device AI models and is enabled by default to provide a more intuitive search experience.
Final Thoughts
It is helpful that Microsoft provides basic indexing by default while giving users the flexibility to add more locations or index their entire drive. However, given the impact on storage and system resources, you should carefully weigh the benefits before toggling on Enhanced Indexing.
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