How to Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations in Windows

information   Information
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.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to modify indexed locations for all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable modifying indexed locations.

CONTENTS:
  • Option One: To Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: To Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations using a REG file


EXAMPLE: Modify Indexed Locations enabled and disabled
Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations in Windows-modify_indexed_options-disabled.png Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations in Windows-modify_indexed_options-enabled.jpg






OPTION ONE

To Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations in Local Group Policy Editor


Note   Note
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

Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations in Windows-indexed_locations_gpedit-1.jpg

3. In the right pane of Search in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Prevent customization of indexed locations in Control Panel 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 Modifying Indexed Locations

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

NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.


 6. To Disable Modifying Indexed Locations

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

Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations in Windows-indexed_locations_gpedit-2.png

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






OPTION TWO

To Enable or Disable Modifying Indexed Locations using a REG file


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

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

PreventModifyingIndexedLocations 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 Modifying Indexed Locations

NOTE: 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_modify_indexed_locations.reg

Download


 3. To Disable Modifying Indexed Locations

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

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


That's it,
Shawn


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