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.

The index uses the Windows Search service and runs as the Searchindexer.exe process in the background. The index will automatically rebuild and update for changes made to the included locations since the last index rebuild to increase search result accuracy.

By default, the search indexer backoff feature will reduce indexing speed while rebuilding the index when there is user activity, and will automatically continue at full speed when no user activity is detected.

If you like, you can enable a policy to pause indexing when your PC is running on battery power to conserve energy, and automatically resume indexing when your PC is running on AC power next.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable indexing when your PC is running on battery power for all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable indexing when on battery power.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Enable or Disable Indexing when on Battery Power in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Two: To Enable or Disable Indexing when on Battery Power using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Indexing when on battery power disabled

OPTION ONE

To Enable or Disable Indexing when on Battery Power in Local Group Policy Editor

   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

3. In the right pane of Search in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Prevent indexing when running on battery power to conserve energy 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 Indexing when on Battery Power

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 Indexing when on Battery Power

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

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

OPTION TWO

To Enable or Disable Indexing when on Battery Power using a REG file

   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

PreventIndexOnBattery 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 Indexing when on Battery Power

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_indexing_when_on_battery_power.reg

Download

 3. To Disable Indexing when on Battery Power

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

Disable_indexing_when_on_battery_power.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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