Windows 10 Search Index failing to keep up-to-date

I am using Widows Search to query the contents of a large collection of pdf documents. Normally, when new pdf files are added to the collection, these are immediately and automatically indexed, and promptly appear in the search results.

However, after sucessfully re-installing Windows 10 following a SSD failure, I find that the Index is no longer being kept up to date when new files are added. In other words, the initial Indexing process completes sucessfully, but does not respond to the addition of newly-saved pdfs. The only way to include them seems to involve a complete rebuild of the Index, which in my case, takes around 48hrs, which is impractical. I have checked that the added files have the same attribute set as those involved in the initial indexing process.

Is there any way to force the indexing process to resume, if it stops after the initial indexing? Ideally of course I would like to have the Index constantly responding to new file additions, which is how it behaved prior to reinstalling Windows 10.

I should add that having reinstalled Windows (Version 1909) I rolled back to Version 1903 in order to recover the superior search query functionality of the earlier version.

Any suggestions as to how to proceed would be appreciated

Hello Graham,

This is one of the issues with search indexing. It often takes time for it to get updated since it updates slowly by default in the background when their is system activity.

If you like, you could disable the indexer backoff using an option in the tutorial below to allow indexing to update at full speed no matter the system activity. However, if you often notice everything else running slowly with the indexer backoff disabled, you might enable it again to stop this.

Enable or Disable Indexer Backoff in Windows

Hi, please could you confirm you have tried adding or deleting a file in a folder known to be indexed and monitored the count shown in Indexing Options.

Please post a screenshot of your task manager when you hope this file will be indexed - is there excessive resource usage?
(This relates to what @Brink has just suggested).

I quite understand what you mean about 1903 vs 1909/2004 on indexing- although I think the mess MS made in 1909 has now largely been resolved except that valid file explorer search syntax is now not indicated in blue. (I'm still on 1903 for this and one other reason)

Odd. You might as well run the search indexing troubleshooter and post a screenshot of the result.

Then run
Use Indexer Diagnostics App for Windows Search Issues in Windows 10

Then try disabling content indexing and try that (e.g for the folder or pdf's)

You could also experiment with a different file type of course...

The standard Troubleshooter wasn't able to help

- presumably passed?

Please also try 2 experiments as per my #5.

Notwithstanding your belief there is no excessive usage, as an experiment try what Brink suggested in #2

Further experiment: if your current files are on a different drive, try an experiment with files only on your system disk. (Sure- should not be different...)

Please then create a new user for test purposes, and see if the same thing occurs.
If it does, perform an in-place upgrade repair install of 1903.
(iso freely downloadable- see tutorial or Google "Heidoc iso downloader"

Thanks.

Graham,

Since you are needing instant always updated search results, you might consider disabling search indexing. This way your search results will always be on the fly instead of referencing from the index.

Search results may take a bit longer than if from the index, but they will always be accurate and up to date.

Enable or Disable Search Indexing in Windows

... but no content indexing if that's required...

I am using Widows Search to query the contents of a large collection of pdf documents.