Windows 11: Rebuilding Windows Search

The database that holds the index for the Windows Search feature can grow very big if the drive has a lot of files.
If this is the case with you, you can rebuild the database and change how it, this function and operates to reduce space usage.

Here is how to rebuild Windows 11 Search Database.

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click Searchiung Windows.
4. Click on Advanced indexing options under the Related Settings section.
5. Click Advanced.
6. Click the Index Settings tab.
7. Click the Rebuild button under Troubleshooting.
8. Now click on the Ok button.

Once you’re done with these steps, the system will clear and rebuild the Windows Search feature’s index database.

Change Windows Search settings

You can prevent the database to grow big.

Modify indexable locations using these steps.

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & Security.
3. Click on Searching Windows on the right side.
4. Click on Advanced indexing options under the Related settings section.
5. Click Modify.
6. Click Show all locations.
7. Clear the options for apps you want to explore in the index.
8. Now expand C: drive and clear the folder you don’t want to appear in search so you reduce the footprint of the database.
9. Click Ok.
10. Click Close.

Once completed steps, Windows Search will update the database and exclude the locations you specified, which will reduce database size overall.

Read more on the blog.