"Microsoft Windows Search Filter Host" too frequent

antares · 4 Weeks Ago

Hi. lately I noticed that the "Microsoft Windows Search Filter Host" process (SearchFilterHost.exe) gets activated quite frequently, and when it does it has high CPU usage. Of course I can disable Windows Search Indexing completely from Services, but instead I tried rebuilding the indexing database as follows:
I tried excluding all locations from indexing except the C: drive by going to Control Panel/Indexing Options/Modify and unchecking all boxes except the C: drive. Then go to Advances/Troubleshoot/Rebuild, to re create the indexing database from zero. The problem I get with this approach is that the folder with lots of numbers in its name keeps checked eventhough I exclude it (see screenshot below), and also that indexing is very slow (it's stuck at 39218 files and advances a few files every 5min).
Is there anything else I can try? Thanks

"Microsoft Windows Search Filter Host" too frequent-2024-03-26_19-50-20.jpg

garlin · 4 Weeks Ago

Try this solution:
Weird looking paths get added to Windows 10 search index and break search

antares · 4 Weeks Ago

garlin said:

Try this solution:
Weird looking paths get added to Windows 10 search index and break search

Thanks, there was no need, after several unmarkings that weird location vanished from search indexing locations, however the other issues described still present

dalchina · 4 Weeks Ago

also that indexing is very slow (it's stuck at 39218 files and advances a few files every 5min).

Indexing 'backs off' even with minimal activity (I seem to recall MS tweaked that to make it more sensitive to user or CPU activity).

Whilst you can disable backing off (Tutorial available), I would only suggest doing that for test purposes.

Other possible things to try:
- run chkdsk on the partition being indexed
- ensure nothing else is accessing the files being indexed
- consider the possible impact of content indexing.. normally not an issue, but I don't know what impact very large files might have.

I choose NOT to have system files indexed- only my personal files.

"Microsoft Windows Search Filter Host" too frequent-1.jpg

If I have file explorer open at 'This PC' I can find my test file containing aardvark almost immediately.

antares · 4 Weeks Ago

Left the process running overnight, it took a few hours to complete as seen below. I see that by default certain locations are excluded. Is there any way to customize what to include/exclude from indexing? I don't see any options to do so in the Advanced section.

"Microsoft Windows Search Filter Host" too frequent-indexin.jpg

dalchina · 4 Weeks Ago

Thank you for your reply.

Two basic ways (there are more):

"Microsoft Windows Search Filter Host" too frequent-2.jpg

(Modify and Untick)

How to Choose Which Files Windows Search Indexes on Your PC

There are plenty of guides on the internet. HowtoGeek had a series of 5 guides - but that's been taken down.
From the Way Back site see:
Learning Windows Search: Stop Hunting and Start Finding!
- a series of 5 lessons.

I came across this- there's a lot that most don't know about Windows search.
How to Use Windows' Advanced Search Features: Everything You Need to Know

antares · 4 Weeks Ago

dalchina said:

Thank you for your reply.

Two basic ways (there are more):

(Modify and Untick)

How to Choose Which Files Windows Search Indexes on Your PC

There are plenty of guides on the internet. HowtoGeek had a series of 5 guides - but that's been taken down.
From the Way Back site see:
Learning Windows Search: Stop Hunting and Start Finding!
- a series of 5 lessons.

I came across this- there's a lot that most don't know about Windows search.
How to Use Windows' Advanced Search Features: Everything You Need to Know

Thanks! that was easy

dalchina · 4 Weeks Ago