This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Windows Search indexing to automatically find additional relevant files and locations for your account in Windows 11.
Indexing the content of your PC helps you get faster results when your searching it for files, emails, or other local content.
The search index only includes your selected locations by default. These locations can be filtered for what file types (extensions), file properties, and file contents you want indexed.
Starting with Windows 11 build 26100.9278 (24H2) and build 26200.9278 (25H2), Windows Search can now automatically expand its indexing scope based on your activity, using signals like recent files and frequently accessed locations. This helps ensure that relevant files across your device are discoverable without requiring manual indexing configuration.
Windows leans which folders matter to you based on your file activity and makes then searchable by properties and content automatically.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Automatically find additional relevant locations for the search index.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Automatically Find Additional Relevant Search Index Locations in Settings
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Automatically Find Additional Relevant Search Index Locations using REG file
Enable or Disable Automatically Find Additional Relevant Search Index Locations in Settings
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Privacy & security on the left side, and click/tap on Search on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Under Find my files, turn On (default) or Off Automatically find additional relevant locations for what you want. (see screenshots below)
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
Enable or Disable Automatically Find Additional Relevant Search Index Locations using REG file
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 Enable Automatically Find Additional Relevant Search Index Locations using REG file
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_ON_Automatically_find_additional_relevant_locations.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\ScopeExpansion]
"Enabled"=dword:000000013 Disable Automatically Find Additional Relevant Search Index Locations using REG file
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_OFF_Automatically_find_additional_relevant_locations.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\ScopeExpansion]
"Enabled"=dword:000000004 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 Restart the computer to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Related Tutorials
- Enable or Disable Search Indexing in Windows 11
- Add or Remove Search Index Locations in Windows 11
- Remove All Automatically Added Search Index Locations in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Modify Indexed Locations in Indexing Options in Windows 11
- Reset and Rebuild Search Index in Windows 11
- Check Search Indexing Status in Windows 11
- Turn On or Off Enhanced Mode for Search Indexer in Windows 11
- Add or Remove File Types for Search Index in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Indexing File Contents on Specific Drive in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Indexing File Contents by File Type in Windows 11
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