5 Ways to Fix Indexing Is Paused on Windows 11

Quick Tips

• Ensure search indexing is enabled on low battery and try restarting the Windows Search service.
• Run the SFC and DISM scans to fix issues caused by corrupt or missing system files.
• Consider rebuilding the search index or performing a system restore if nothing else works.

Fix 1: Restart Windows Search Service

Windows Search service is an essential program responsible for indexing content and providing search results. If there’s an issue with that service, the indexing process will be interrupted. You can try restarting the Windows Search service to see if that helps.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to launch the Run command, type in services.msc, and press Enter.

Step 2: In the Services window, scroll down to locate Windows Search. Right-click on it and select Restart from the menu. If the service is not running, choose Start.

Fix 2: Enable Search Indexing on Low Battery

When your Windows laptop is low on battery, it may suspend some of the background processes like search indexing. And sometimes, these activities may fail to resume even after connecting your laptop to a power source. To avoid this, you can configure the indexing tool to ignore the power settings on Windows. Here’s how.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app and head to Privacy & security > Searching Windows.

Step 2: Toggle off the switch next to Respect power settings when indexing.

Fix 3: Run SFC and DISM Scan

Corrupt or missing system files can also interrupt the indexing process on Windows. If that is the case, running an SFC (or System File Checker) and DISM (or Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans will help.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + X to access the Quick Link menu and select the Terminal (Admin) option from the list.

Step 2: Paste the command mentioned below and press Enter.

SFC /scannow

Step 3: Run the following commands and press Enter after each:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Fix 4: Rebuild Search Index

If the above solutions don’t work out, the search index library on your PC has likely become corrupted or inaccessible. In that case, your only option is to rebuild the index from scratch.

Note: This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on your system and the amount of data.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app. In the Privacy & security tab, select Searching Windows.

Step 2: Scroll down to click on Advanced indexing options.

Step 3: Click on Advanced.

Step 4: Hit the Rebuild button under Troubleshooting.

Fix 5: Run System Restore

A recent change in the system settings or a firmware update may have led to such indexing issues on Windows. If you can’t figure out the exact cause, you can undo those recent changes by performing a system restore.

Step 1: Open the search menu, type in create a restore point and press Enter.

Step 2: Under the System Protection tab, click the System Restore button.

Step 3: Click Next to continue.

Step 4: Select the Recommended restore option and click Next. Then, click Finish.