Enable or Disable Adding Locations on Removable Drives to Index and Libraries in Windows 10


By default, Windows will use the index when searching to give you faster search results. The search index only includes your selected locations. These locations can be filtered for what file types (extensions), file properties, and file contents you want indexed.

Libraries gather folders that are stored in different locations so you can browse them in one place. You can include folders and drives to a library as you like.

By default, users in Windows are able to add locations on removable drives to libraries and as indexed locations.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to add locations on removable drives to libraries and as indexed location for all users in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable adding locations on removable drives to libraries and indexed locations.



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Adding Locations on Removable Drives to Index and Libraries in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Adding Locations on Removable Drives to Index and Libraries using a REG file



EXAMPLE: Adding removable drive to library and as indexed location
Disable Adding Removable Drives to Index and Libraries in Windows 10-add_removable_drive_to_library.png
Disable Adding Removable Drives to Index and Libraries in Windows 10-add_removable_drive_location_to_index.png





OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Adding Locations on Removable Drives to Index and Libraries in Local Group Policy Editor


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option TWO below.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2 In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Search

Disable Adding Removable Drives to Index and Libraries in Windows 10-disableremovabledriveindexing_gpedit-1.jpg

3 In the right pane of Search in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Do not allow locations on removable drives to be added to libraries policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


5 To Enable Adding Locations on Removable Drives to Index and Libraries

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.



6 To Disable Adding Locations on Removable Drives to Index and Libraries

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Disable Adding Removable Drives to Index and Libraries in Windows 10-disableremovabledriveindexing_gpedit-2.png

7 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Adding Locations on Removable Drives to Index and Libraries using a REG file


The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search

DisableRemovableDriveIndexing DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Enable Adding Locations on Removable Drives to Index and Libraries

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_adding_locations_on_removable_drives_to_libraries_and_index.reg

Download


3 To Disable Adding Locations on Removable Drives to Index and Libraries

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_adding_locations_on_removable_drives_to_libraries_and_index.reg

Download


4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 Restart the computer to apply.

8 If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.


That's it,
Shawn


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