---
title: "Windows: Open and adjust indexing options"
url: https://lookeen.com/blog/windows-open-and-adjust-indexing-options
lang: en
description: "With Windows Indexing Options, you can open and adjust your search index. Click here for relevant guides!"
author: "Froher Yosofy"
published: 2021-04-20T14:17:35+00:00
modified: 2026-11-11T04:59:04+00:00
---

# Windows: Open and adjust indexing options

Do you want to customize your search index in Windows? This step must be performed via the indexing options in Windows. In this article, we will show you how to open and adjust these settings in all newer versions of Windows. [Click here if you want to improve your Windows search index.](https://lookeen.com/blog/windows-faster-search-using-the-search-index-here-s-how)

## Open Indexing Options in Windows

**Step 1:** Type “Indexing Options” in the search field next to the Windows icon. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut *Windows key+R*. A new window will then open. Type the command “control.exe srchadmin.dll” here.

![Windows Run](https://lookeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/control-exe-Ausfuehren-Windows-Indizierungsoptionen.jpg)

**Step 2:** A new window with the Windows Indexing Options will open. Click on *Change* to see which data is included in your Windows search index.

**Step 3:** Click on *Advanced Options* to access the advanced indexing options in Windows.

[Search your PC with the Lookeen search in seconds!](https://lookeen.com/solutions/desktop-search/desktop-search)

## Customize Indexing Options in Windows

**Step 1:** In the Indexing Options, click on *Change*. You can now select which files you want to continue including in your Windows search index and which ones you do not. To do this, check or uncheck the boxes as needed. To avoid significantly slowing down your system, it is advisable not to index an entire drive at this point. Therefore, for better time management, uncheck “(C:)”.

![Windows Indexing Options](https://lookeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Indizierungsoptionen-Aendern.jpg)

**Step 2:** In the advanced indexing options (See Chapter 1, Step 3), under *File Types* next to *Index Settings*, you can specify whether the Windows search index should also consider file contents. If you want to search within file contents as well, this feature should be enabled.

![Advanced Indexing Options](https://lookeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Indizierungsoptionen-erweitert-Windows.jpg)

## Alternative to the Windows Search Index

A more efficient alternative to the Windows search index is Lookeen: Indexing is performed completely once upon the first launch of Lookeen and includes not only file names and headings, but also the contents of the files. The system automatically detects when these are modified, deleted, or newly created – thanks to synchronization, the index remains always up to date. Thanks to this real-time indexing, new data is immediately available to the system, which greatly increases search speed. While Windows search can significantly slow down the system, Lookeen handles your file search in seconds! [Click here for more information on Lookeen desktop search.](https://lookeen.com/blog/lookeen-the-alternative-to-windows-desktop-search/)

I hope this article has helped you open and customize your indexing options in Windows.

See you soon!