How to change the location of Search Index in Windows 10

You can, if you wish, chose to change the default location of search index in Windows 10/8/7. It is, by default, stored at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data folder, which is a hidden system folder.

Read: What is Search Indexing and how does it affect searching in Windows 10?

Change location of Search Index

To change the default Search Index Location in Windows 10, do the following:

1. Open Control Panel
2. Select All items view
3. Click on Indexing Options
4. Click on Advanced button.
5. Select Index Settings tab
6. Under the Index location, click on Select new button
7. In the Browse for folder box, select your new location
8. Click OK and exit.

Let us see these steps in details.

Open Control Panel in its ‘All items view’, and click on Indexing Options.

Next click on Advanced.

In the Index location box, click Select new.

Choose the folder where you want to store the search index file in. Click on OK.

This operation will restart Windows Search Service, and indexing will take place afresh and be saved at this new location.

Want more? Check out these Windows Search Indexer tips.