I'm having a frustrating issue with Windows Search indexing. When trying to use 'Save As' in File Explorer to search for a folder, the search just hangs and returns zero results, which completely blocks the function. Meanwhile, the Windows Search indexing doesn't seem to finish, and the number of pending items keeps climbing (over 60,000!).
I've made sure to exclude AppData and system folders, and I've checked that the indexed locations are set correctly, matching those on a working PC. I even formatted the PC and did a clean install of Windows, but the problem came back. Has anyone else run into this issue with Explorer search or the stuck Windows Search index? What did you do to resolve it?
2 Answers
I've seen this issue before! A potential fix is to rebuild the index. You can do this by going to Indexing Options in Control Panel. Hit Win + R, type 'control', and then navigate to Indexing Options. Just click on 'Advanced' and look for the option to rebuild the index. It can take some time, so don't rush it!
Honestly, Windows search has been pretty unreliable for a long time. It might be beneficial to look for alternatives because this issue isn’t uncommon. Lots of people have experienced similar frustrations.
Any suggestions for a good replacement search tool?
I've already done that. I'm curious though, why does setting the view to large or small icons matter?