To enable or disable Windows 11’s automatic indexing of frequently used folders, open Settings > Privacy & security > Search, expand Find my files if needed, and switch Automatically find additional relevant locations On or Off.
What the setting does
The option lets Windows automatically index frequently used folders so files in them can appear in subsequent Windows Search results. Microsoft describes this behavior in its August 27, 2026 preview update notes for OS builds 26200.9278 and 26100.9278: Windows 11 KB5120998 update notes.
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Turn automatic folder indexing on or off
- Press Win+I to open Settings.
- Select Privacy & security, then Search.
- Under Find my files, expand the section if necessary and locate Automatically find additional relevant locations.
- Switch the setting On to allow automatic discovery and indexing of frequently used folders, or Off to disable that behavior. The ElevenForum walkthrough identifies On as the default.
What turning it off does—and does not establish
Turning the switch Off disables the automatic discovery behavior described above. The cited Microsoft notes do not say whether this removes locations already added to the index, so do not assume that changing the switch clears existing indexed locations.
Microsoft’s update notes also do not explain which activity signals Windows uses to identify frequently used folders, or describe associated privacy and retention mechanics. The setting’s name alone is not enough to establish those details. The sources do not quantify any effect on search speed, storage use, or battery life.
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Registry alternative
ElevenForum also describes a registry method using HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows SearchScopeExpansion and a DWORD named Enabled: set it to 1 to enable the feature or 0 to disable it. Its guide says to restart after merging a .reg file. This is a third-party procedure; Microsoft’s cited notes document the Settings switch, not this registry method. For ordinary use, change the setting in Windows Settings instead.
Build and label differences
The official path and feature description cited here appear in Microsoft’s August 27, 2026 preview notes for Windows 11 OS builds 26200.9278 and 26100.9278. The precise availability or label may differ on other builds; if the named option is missing, check Windows Update and look again under Settings > Privacy & security > Search.
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