Windows Search High CPU usage

highlander · Jan 12, 2022

Windows Search Indexer makes the fans very loud on my laptop. It is constantly running and running for too long. Why do they need to index so much? It is making me feel like Microsoft is using the search indexer to mine for bitcoin.

I do not create that many files, i do not understand why they need to index constantly and for huge amounts of time.

Anyone seen a much higher than windows 10 Indexing issues? When is this going to get fixed? It was already a problem in windows 10. Windows 11 goes to an order of magnitude of CPU and power usage.

Thanks

ShamrockRig · Jan 12, 2022

highlander said:
Windows Search Indexer makes the fans very loud on my laptop. It is constantly running and running for too long. Why do they need to index so much? It is making me feel like Microsoft is using the search indexer to mine for bitcoin.

I do not create that many files, i do not understand why they need to index constantly and for huge amounts of time.

Anyone seen a much higher than windows 10 Indexing issues? When is this going to get fixed? It was already a problem in windows 10. Windows 11 goes to an order of magnitude of CPU and power usage.

Thanks

I Didn't use indexing on win10 but it automatically enabled on 11 and i noticed some of these issues so i just disabled it. Win updates do seem to re-enable it though.
Generally i go with this

Good CPU and a standard hard drive = Keep indexing on
Slow CPU and any hard drive = Turn indexing off
Any CPU with an SSD = Turn indexing off

But without causing a debate about whether its better or worse or why you would or wouldn't.
If its causing you an issue id recommend this . Enable or Disable Advanced Indexing Options in Windows
Whether you do it temporarily until a few updates down the line or not is up to you.
Only fix i found was to stop it al together again. Put it this way, From win 10 with it off, To win 11 with it on or off, I personally notice no difference. This might change for people with more files etc that rely on searching for a line of text in a file thats with 4986308 others

Fabler2 · Jan 12, 2022

No issues for me but worth checking your settings under Privacy & security, Searching Windows.

Richj44 · Jan 13, 2022

highlander said:
Windows Search Indexer makes the fans very loud on my laptop. It is constantly running and running for too long. Why do they need to index so much? It is making me feel like Microsoft is using the search indexer to mine for bitcoin.

I do not create that many files, i do not understand why they need to index constantly and for huge amounts of time.

Anyone seen a much higher than windows 10 Indexing issues? When is this going to get fixed? It was already a problem in windows 10. Windows 11 goes to an order of magnitude of CPU and power usage.

Thanks

Same here, I ended up turning of indexing until they fix it.

The-Hive · Jan 13, 2022

I use 3rd party app Search Everything and turned indexing off, as Everything is quick and uses pretty much no system recourses

glasskuter · Jan 13, 2022

You might try running the search troubleshooter. Settings-System-Troubleshoot-other troubleshooters-search and indexing

hdmi · Jan 13, 2022

Here is a guide.

How to configure Indexing Options and Settings for Windows 11 Search

If you want to configure Indexing Options and Settings for Windows 11 Search effortlessly, follow this article.

www.thewindowsclub.com

Rather than disabling the Search Indexing altogether (which is not generally recommended, as some apps you use might also depend on the Search Indexing in a number of ways some of which most people would probably never expect), you could also decide to remove specific locations for Search Index by following this tutorial:

Add or Remove Search Index Locations in Windows 10

How to Add or Remove Locations for Search Index in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

If you need the Enhanced Search capability that @Fabler2 was talking about, then you could also decide to add more exclusions:

Add or Remove Excluded Folders for Search Indexer in Windows 10

How to Add or Remove Excluded Folders for Search Indexer in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Another thing that is known to sometimes eat a lot of CPU power is the indexing of file contents and properties:

Allow File Contents and Properties to be Indexed on a Drive in Windows

How to Turn On or Off Indexing Contents and Properties of Files on a Drive in Windows

www.tenforums.com

But, because you might actually want to use the ability to index file contents and properties for specific file types, disabling the indexing for all of the other file types might help also:

Add or Remove File Types for Search Index in Windows 10

How to Add or Remove File Types for Search Index in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

As @The-Hive noted, Everything Search (aka Everything) is a fantastic choice, in fact I have been using it for way more than a decade, and I recommend Everything almost as much as I would recommend anything...

But, some people complain that it can't search file contents and its ability to search file properties also is limited. But then, Everything doesn't stop you from still ALSO using Windows Search and Search Indexing for whatever it is that you might need/want, so... it really is THAT wonderful.

EDIT: maybe you might also want to verify that the indexer backoff is set to enabled, which is the default setting:

Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Windows

How to Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Windows

www.tenforums.com

jbcarreon123 · Jan 13, 2022

hdmi said:
As @The-Hive noted, Everything Search (aka Everything) is a fantastic choice, in fact I have been using it for way more than a decade, and I recommend Everything almost as much as I would recommend anything... But, some people complain that it can't search file contents and its ability to search file properties also is limited. But then, Everything doesn't stop you from still ALSO using Windows Search and Search Indexing for whatever it is that you might need/want, so... it really is THAT wonderful

Code:

dir [DRIVELETTER]: *.[EXT] /s

dir C:/ *.exe /s
dir D:/ what3rdpartyappneeded.txt /s

hdmi · Jan 13, 2022

jbcarreon123 said:
Code:

dir [DRIVELETTER]: *.[EXT] /s dir C:/ *.exe /s dir D:/ what3rdpartyappneeded.txt /s

Some 30 years ago?

jbcarreon123 · Jan 13, 2022

hdmi said:
Some 30 years ago?

Well, there is some things you can do without using 3rd party programs.

hdmi · Jan 14, 2022

jbcarreon123 said:
Well, there is some things you can do without using 3rd party programs.

Yes, but getting instant search results in concert with very low power consumption isn't one of them (unless you have the time and skills to write the program yourself).