How to Enable or Disable Indexing File Contents by File Type in Windows 11
Windows 11 allows you to control if the operating system searches the text inside your files, not just the file names. This feature helps you find documents faster by searching through the words they contain.
Open Settings, go to Privacy & security, then Search, and click Advanced indexing options. In the Indexing Options window, click Advanced, select the File Types tab, choose a file extension, and then select either “Index Properties Only” or “Index Properties and File Contents.
Indexing is Windows’ way of creating a searchable database of your files. It always saves basic details like a file’s name and location, but it can also read and store the actual text within certain file types.
Windows 11's indexing feature lets you search inside documents. This powerful capability allows Windows 11 to scan the words in files, such as Word documents or text files, to help you find them faster when you search. The indexing also helps programs like Microsoft Outlook find emails quickly.
You can choose to index only the file properties, or tell Windows to index the full content for specific file types. This setting helps speed up searches for the information you need.
- Index Properties Only: Windows will only record basic file information – its name, location, and other details. It will not read or store the content inside the file. You can still search for files by their names, but you won’t be able to search for words within the file’s text.
- Index Properties and File Contents: Windows will record the file’s properties *and* it will read and catalog the words and data inside the file, making that content searchable.
Choosing "Index Properties Only" creates a smaller search index, saving disk space. However, this setting makes finding files harder if you need to search for text within a document. For most users, indexing file contents provides the best search experience by examining the text of your documents.
How to Change File Indexing Settings
Windows Registry changes allow you to instruct Windows how you want specific file types to be indexed. You must be logged in as an administrator to make these changes.
Step 1Open Windows Settings
Let's start by opening the main Settings app. Press the Windows key and the I key on your keyboard simultaneously.
Step 2Go to Search Settings
Within the Settings window, click on Privacy & security in the left-hand menu. Then, on the right side, locate and select Search.
Step 3Find Advanced Indexing Options
You are now in the Search settings. Scroll down the right side until you find a section titled Related settings. Within that section, click on Advanced indexing options.
Step 4Open the Indexing Options Window
Step 5Select the File Types Tab
Within the "Advanced Indexing Options" window, you will notice two tabs at the top: Indexed Properties and File Types. Select the File Types tab.
Step 6Choose a File Type
To change how Windows searches for files, first pick the file type you want to adjust. You'll see a long list of file extensions like .txt for text files or .docx for Word documents. Scroll through and click on the specific file extension, such as .docx, to change its indexing settings.
Step 7Choose How to Index
- Index Properties Only: If you choose this, Windows will only record basic information about files with the extension you selected. It will not read the contents. You will see "Filter Description: File Properties" next to this option.
- Index Properties and File Contents: Choose this if you want Windows to read and record the actual words and data inside files of this type. You will see "Filter Description: Plain Text Filter" next to this option.
Click the option that aligns with your desired indexing behavior for that particular file type.
If you select ".docx" and then choose "Index Properties Only," you instruct Windows not to process the text within your Word documents for search. Conversely, selecting "Index Properties and File Contents" enables Windows to read the text within those documents for search.
Step 8Repeat for Other File Types
You can adjust settings for many different file types, not just one. To select another file extension, like .pdf or .xlsx, go back to step 6. Then, repeat step 7 to choose whether Windows should index only the file's properties or both the file's properties and its contents.
Step 9Save Your Changes
After completing all desired changes for the selected file types, click the OK button located at the bottom of the "Advanced Indexing Options" window to apply your settings.
Step 10Close Windows
Once you've made all your desired changes to file indexing, close the "Indexing Options" window. You can also close the main Settings window if you're all done. Windows will start using your new search settings right away, though it might take a little while to update its index in the background.
That concludes the process! Windows will now implement your updated indexing preferences for the file types you modified. The changes take effect immediately, though the index might require some time to synchronize in the background, particularly if you have a large number of files or implemented significant alterations.
Summary
This guide showed you how to decide if Windows 11 should search inside specific types of files. By using the Advanced Indexing Options, you can tell Windows to either just look at file names and dates or to read and search through the actual text within your documents and other files.
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About the Author
Richard
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Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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