Windows search slow: how to make it faster
Every now and then it can happen that the Windows search works slowly. In this practical tip, we will show you how files and folders can be found more quickly.
Add directories to the search index
- Start the Windows Control Panel and open the "Indexing Options" entry. In the new window, click on "Change".
- Select all directories on your hard drives that are to be included in the search results.
Too many directories slow down the search
However, the Windows search works slowly even if there are too many entries in the search index. It is therefore not recommended to add too many folders to the search index. Instead, you should only index the folders that you browse more often.
- Therefore, remove all unnecessary directories in the indexing options.
Speed up Windows search: rebuild index
You can also re-create the search index and thereby speed up the search again:
- Open the "Indexing Options" in the Windows Control Panel and select the "Advanced" item.
- In the Troubleshoot area, click the "Create New" button. Wait for the process to finish.
Troubleshoot resolves Windows Search problems
You can also troubleshoot other errors:
- Open the Windows Control Panel and select the "Indexing Options".
- Then click on the advanced options and select "Troubleshoot Search and Indexing". Follow the on-screen instructions to start troubleshooting and correction.
Tip: As an alternative to the Windows search, you can also use free programs such as Everything. In our next practical tip, you'll also learn how to make Windows 10 faster.