How Windows 10 19H1’s Enhanced Search Feature Works

[nir]

Enhanced Mode for Search indexer coming to Windows

 

The search feature has always been one of the Windows tools that left a lot to be desired, especially because users expected nothing more than a quick and accurate search process.

Instead, what they got was a rather slow searching task that didn’t always return the results they were looking for, basically making Windows Search a feature to avoid.

Microsoft knows this very well and the company is working on improving the Windows 10 search option in a way that would address all these issues.

The upcoming Windows 10 feature update due in the spring of 2019 would bring major refinements in this regard, and Microsoft has started testing out a new search feature with help from insiders.

Windows 10 build 18267 comes with an enhanced mode for the search indexer, and the purpose is as simple as it could be: make the search process substantially faster by indexing more locations.

First of all, here’s how Microsoft describes this enhanced mode and scroll down for a further analysis on how the feature works:

“To improve our search indexing, we created a new feature that enables Windows to search all your folders and drives, instead of limiting search to your documents, pictures, videos, and desktop by default.

To turn it on, search for Windows search settings, and in the Searching Windows settings, under “Find My Files”, select Enhanced to begin the one-time indexing process. It will take about 15 minutes for search to begin returning these additional files in results. If you have lots of files, it may take longer. Make sure you plug in before you start, indexing is a resource-intensive activity.”

 

So yes, the first thing you need to do is head over to the Settings app and enable the enhanced mode. Starting with this preview build (and with Windows 10 19H1 on production devices), there’s a new section in the Settings app under Settings > Cortana > Searching Windows.

This new menu lets you configure the search feature in Windows 10, and right now, it also offers access to this enhanced mode.

As Microsoft explains, the purpose of the enhanced setting is to let Windows index more than just files placed in your libraries and on the desktop. This means the Windows Search feature would search all your files, create a map of the data, so when you search for a specific item, it knows exactly where it is.

The indexing process itself isn’t new to Windows, and it takes a while to complete. It all depends on how much data you have on your local drives, and Windows 10 also lets you define specific folders that you want to be excluded from the indexing. This way, files stored in these folders would never show up in search results.

 

The aforementioned section in the Settings app also provides with stats regarding the indexing task and shows info like indexed files and pending. When the indexing comes to an end, you’ll see a message in the same screen that reads “Indexing complete.”

You should know that this indexing task runs as a high priority process, so it’ll use most of your system resources. This means a certain impact on system performance should be noticed, so don’t run it before playing games or launching a process that’s more demanding.

I’ve tested this feature in the latest preview build and for the time being, it all seems to work correctly. Results are indeed more accurate and are provided much faster than on Windows 10 version 1809, for instance, and there’s a chance more refinements would be made in the coming months.

Windows 10 191H1 is projected to be finalized in March, while the RTM build should be pushed to production devices beginning in April. The new update will be known as Windows 10 version 1903.

Source

[Pete 12]

Nice , if you really need this function .

But be aware its a "no go "  if you want to use your SSD ( !)  a long time.............

[Archanus]

del

[Pete 12]

I dont need this function , so will not use it, and safe my SSD also.

There are a lot of other software , which dont use the indexer , but will search very fast also.........

( f.e. ; Everything , etc. )

[fishbone]

I actually like this feature, but I can't find it anywhere in my win10. Dang it! 

[Pete 12]

You better should be glad.................!          

[Karlston]

The UK's The Register says it all about Microsoft's perverse sense of priorities with this phrase...

 

Quote

You don't want fixes. You really want a shiny new Windows Search. Of course you do.

 

Source: Microsoft promises a fix for Windows 10 zip file woes. In November  (The Register aka 'El Reg')