If you have updated to Windows 11 and would like to customise the way that search works on the operating system. This article will show you several different things you can do to change the content that can be found when using Windows 11 local search. It’s also possible to make certain parts of your system unsearchable.

Related: How to enable Windows 11 styling in Google Chrome.

Search on Windows 10 isn’t the most reliable tool for searching for content on the operating system but it is the only tool available. More often than not the average person’s memory outperformed search on Windows 10. This time around Microsoft has changed the way search works on Windows 11 and the results are already considerably better, though there is still certainly room for improvement.

Search Indexing on Windows 11 lets your computer search through/for every folder, file, program, etc to give you the closest match to your question. For the most part, it’s quite reliable and generally brings the right items to the top of the list first. Search on Windows 11 is also quite customisable and can be configured in a range of different ways, all of which we’ll guide you through below.

Windows 11 Search Indexing and battery life settings?

By default Windows 11 uses a classic search option which is designed to reduce battery drain by only searching User folders and some browser history. However, you can switch to Enhanced mode which will allow Search to search your entire PC. Obviously Enhanced mode is going to use a fair bit more power so battery drain will increase.

You can also adjust indexing power settings from Settings > Privacy & Security > Searching Windows.

Configuring Search Indexing on Windows 11.

Before doing anything else the first and most important thing to change are the Windows default “Searching Windows” settings.

  • Open Settings, then go to Privacy & Security > Searching Windows.
  • Here you will see a long list of configurable options, all of which you need to configure to meet your needs.

windows 11 search indexing options change

How do you exclude folders from Search on Windows 11?

If don’t want certain folders to be included in search results on Windows 11 you’ll need to do the following.

  • If you are using Classic Search click the Customize search locations option. This will open a new window.
  • Next, click Modify and use the tree in the new window to add locations to search. Everything without a blue tick will be left out of search results. Once you have made changes click Ok to save them.

windows 11 change search indexing options

How do you include encrypted files in search results on Windows 11?

If you want to add encrypted files to search results on Windows 11 do the following.

  • Open Settings, then go to Privacy & Security > Searching Windows.
  • If you are using Classic Search click the Customize search locations option. This will open a new window.
  • In this new window click Advanced, then place a tick in the Index encrypted files checkbox.

windows 11 search indexing options changes

How do you exclude folders from Enhanced search on Windows 11?

If are using Enhanced Search on Windows 11 you can add certain folders to the excluded list by doing the following.

  • Open Settings, then go to Privacy & Security > Searching Windows.
  • Here click the Add an excluded folder. Then search for the folder in the File Explorer window that appears. When you find it click Select folder to save the change.

change how search works on windows 11