To rebuild the Windows Search index in Windows 11, open Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows > Advanced indexing options. In the Indexing Options window, select Advanced, then choose Rebuild under Troubleshooting and confirm. Let indexing finish before judging whether results have returned.
Rebuild the Windows Search index
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows > Advanced indexing options.
- In Indexing Options, select Advanced.
- On the Index Settings tab, select Rebuild in the Troubleshooting section.
- Confirm the prompt. Windows will recreate its search catalog; allow the process to complete before testing your searches.
You can also open Indexing Options through Control Panel. Exact navigation labels may vary by Windows version. Microsoft’s [Windows search indexing guidance] and [troubleshooting instructions] describe the indexing controls and rebuild process.
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Check whether the missing folder is indexed
Rebuilding only refreshes the catalog; it cannot add a folder that is outside the indexed locations. Windows Search catalogs files and their properties, and may catalog file contents depending on the location and file-type settings. If a particular folder is missing from results, verify that its location is included in the index.
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| Mode | Default coverage | Resource considerations |
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Microsoft’s [indexing FAQ] explains these scope options. If searches should match words inside documents rather than only filenames or properties, check the file type’s setting in Advanced indexing options and confirm it is configured to index file contents.
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How long rebuilding can take
Microsoft says a first indexing run can take up to a couple of hours. That is an estimate for initial indexing, not a guaranteed rebuild duration; the time depends on the amount and type of content being indexed. Microsoft’s rebuild guidance warns that the process may take a long time, so wait for it to finish before concluding that it has failed.
If expected results are still missing
- Confirm that the affected folder is included in indexed locations and that the relevant file types allow content indexing if you are searching within files.
- From Advanced indexing options, run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter.
- Check whether Windows has signed you in with a temporary profile; Microsoft lists this as a possible reason files may not appear in search.
See Microsoft’s [guidance for finding missing files] for additional checks. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so Windows 10 users should also account for its support status when troubleshooting.
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Windows Search and Outlook search are separate
If the missing results are specifically in Outlook, Outlook has a separate Instant Search catalog and its own rebuild procedure. That issue is distinct from missing files in Windows Search; rebuilding the Windows index is not a universal fix for Outlook search.
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