Indexing Broken in Windows 11 (Painfully Slow At Best)

Anonymous
2021-12-05T01:10:52+00:00

Hello

I have upgraded to Windows 11 Pro on two different laptops, and both have the same issue with indexing. It is painfully slow and then usually resets itself after a couple of weeks.

Both PCs are high-end laptops with Core i9 mobile CPUs (1 x 6 core and the other 8 core). Both run 2 x NVMe 1TB drives. Both have 64GB RAM.

Both run MS Office and I use Outlook for email connected to same IMAP accounts on both. My docs, pics, music and work-related files are all stored on OneDrive and accessed from both PCs (OneDrive is set to keep local copies on both PCs for fast access).

Windows is being asked to index around 250,000 files and 80,000 emails and calendar appts. Windows 10 used to accomplish this task in 6-8 hours max.

Windows 11 takes nearly two days just to index the emails. It can take up to three weeks to index the lot and then some folders simply refuse to be indexed. Then, after a couple more weeks it will eventually lose the lot and indexing has to start from scratch again (on both PCs)

I have tried:

Disabling backoff via registry so indexing never pauses

Only adding one location at a time to let it slowly build up (e.g., add only Outlook and when that finishes add a folder)

Rebuilding the index

Storing the index in different location

Search and Indexing Trouble-shooter

Nothing fixes the issue

Any help appreciated.

Cheers

Mick

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-06-27T02:00:47+00:00

    please try to delete the registry key, it worked for me.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\PluginResourceData

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-04-25T11:26:00+00:00

    See also Find more shapes and stencils (microsoft.com)

    Last section say : Currently (early 2022) shape search not working correctly on Windows 11. Following is a fix you can apply to your computer that repairs this problem. 

    1. Open the Services app. In the alphabetical list of services, find Windows Search.
    2. In the Properties window, on the General tab, change the Startup type to Manual. Select OK.
    3. In the alphabetical list, right-click Windows Search and select Stop.
    4. Open registry editor (regedit.exe).
    5. In the tree view on the left, navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\PluginResourceData
    6. Add a new DWORD (32-bit) key named: ShutoffThreshold
    7. Double-click the ShutoffThresholdelement to edit it. Set Value data to ffffffff, then select OK.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-02-01T09:01:21+00:00

    Hi everybody.

    No only Windows 11 indexing is extremely slow as also when working with Outlook 365 Enterprise Version this Program Search simply does not work.

    Once one updates to Windows 11 the Outlook 365 Enterprise Version does not perform any proper searches which for any large Lawyers company like ours is a nightmare.

    We have tried everything one can imagine and even were assisted to try to solve the problem of Outlook not performing searches well by a Microsoft Office 365 Support Ambassador.

    Nothing worked. We as a company are now moving to Switzerland's Proton Mail working on Google Workspace Email App and all searches there are working perfectly.

    It is a shame to lose Outlook which used to be a very good email program.

    Paulo Maia Gonçalves.

    Lawyer and Attorney at Supreme Court - Portugal

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-12-08T04:01:16+00:00

    Thanks, I'd love to but need it to find documents and emails for work.

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-12-05T02:08:23+00:00

    Hi Mikey. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, specializing in Installation, Performance, Troubleshooting and Activation, here to help you.

    Try these fixes for indexing in Windows 11:

    See here how to configure and then rebuild the Index to prepare for fast searches in Windows 11:

    https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-configure...

    https://www.ghacks.net/2021/10/26/how-to-manage...

    Once you have everything selected you want to be searched the rebuild the Index per the above tutorials and it should work now.

    If not then try these repairs to fix Search not working in Windows 11:

    https://www.webnots.com/how-to-fix-windows-11-s...

    https://allthings.how/7-ways-to-fix-windows-11-...

    https://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-11/windows-11-...

    https://thegeekpage.com/windows-11-search-not-w...

    https://www.lifewire.com/fix-search-not-working...

    https://www.maketecheasier.com/windows-11-searc...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HEJj4oyjlQ

    Feel free to ask back any questions. Please report back results for all steps given so I know what else to suggest if necessary.

    ______________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

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