How to add encrypted files to search results on Windows 10

On Windows 10, the Search experience builds a database to alphabetize the locations and information required to show your files from known folders as quickly equally possible.

Although this feature makes finding contents a lot faster, there's one caveat, Windows x doesn't alphabetize files that are locally encrypted on your device. However, this is the default behavior, which means that if you're using file encryption, you can update the settings to make this type of content searchable.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you lot through the steps to make your local encrypted files searchable on your computer.

How to change index settings to include encrypted files in Search

To make encrypted files searchable on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open up Kickoff.
Search for Indexing options and click the elevation result to open the experience.
Click the Advanced push button.
Click on the Index Settings tab.
Nether the "File Settings" department, and check the Index encrypted files option.

Warning: You can enable this option while using a device without encryption. Nonetheless, you should only use this selection when you're already using drive encryption on your device.
Click the OK push.
Click the OK push over again to ostend that this action will rebuild the search alphabetize.
Click the Close push button.

Once y'all complete the steps, Windows 10 will get-go indexing encrypted files to make them available when using search.

If y'all change your find and want to hibernate encrypted files from search results, you can use the aforementioned instructions outlined above, merely on footstep No. 4, make sure to clear the Index encrypted files selection.

Indexing additional locations

While you can quickly alter the indexing options to include encrypted content, by default, Windows 10 will only add together to the database those files in known locations, such as from the Documents and Desktop folders. If you're storing encrypted data on a different drive, you lot also demand to specify that location with these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Indexing options and click the peak result to open the feel.
Click the Modify push button.
Select the location with the content type.

Quick tip: You can also click the Show all locations butto to find additional folders.
Click the OK push.
Click the Shut button.

After completing the steps, encrypted files should start appearing gradually in results using the Search from the taskbar.

Nosotros're focusing this guide on Windows x, but the ability to index encrypted files has been around for a long fourth dimension, which means that you lot can likewise apply these instructions on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

More Windows 10 resources

For more than helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

Windows 10 on Windows Central – All y'all demand to know
Windows 10 aid, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

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