Indexing is temporarily paused. An error affecting Windows search functionality. This can be caused by the automatic pause of search indexing on some computers. If you are unable to effectively find files and folders on your computer, this post provides you with the knowledge you need to resolve the issue. Indexing is temporarily paused.
Joint solutions
Search indexing is an integral part of Windows, making it easier to identify files on your system. If the service is paused or disabled, Windows Search will run much slower, as it has to scroll through all your files in real time to locate the required files. In such cases, the error message "Indexing is paused" will appear in Windows Settings, alerting you that the service has stopped working.
There could be many reasons behind this system feature's failure, so users should try various solutions before they can resolve the issue permanently. First, let's try some of the most common solutions that can also apply to a number of other Windows errors.
- Restart your computer
- turn on SFC and DISM scans – It can repair corrupted system files.
If these initial fixes don't work for you, Continue through the list of more specific solutions.
1. Enable search indexing on low battery
Windows Indexing regularly runs in the background and turns off when your device's battery is low to conserve power. In this case, you can adjust your system settings by following the steps below to keep Windows Indexing running at all times and avoid encountering further issues.
- Right-click on the Start menu and select "Settings".
- Click “Privacy and Security” and select Windows Search.
- Turn off the switch next to “Respect power settings when indexing.”
- Check if the file search function is working as it should.
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2. Recording disc
The Windows registry contains keys and values that help your system run smoothly, and many problems can arise if these files become corrupted. Modifying the registry files is another way users can overcome the "Indexing is temporarily paused" issue in Windows.
- Click on Windows + R keys To open Run.
- Type regedit and select "OK".
- Click "Yeah" To grant administrative privileges and follow-up.
- Paste the following address into the navigation bar:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \
- Click on Windows Search On the left, double-click “PreventIndexingOutlook” On the right.
- If you do not have Windows Search You can create it by right-clicking on it. “Windows -> Edit -> New -> Key.” Name it accordingly, then create a value. “PreventIndexingOutlook” Right-click on an empty space in the list on the right and select “New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.”
- Once created, double-click on it to set the “Rule” to Hexadecimal Change the “Value Data” to “1”, and then click "OK".
- Restart the computer.
3. Restart the search service.
A disabled search service can also cause similar issues, leaving users without the file search functionality. Follow these steps to restart it.
- Click on Windows + R keys To open Run.
- Type services.msc and select "OK".
- Right click on Windows Search And choose "Properties".
- While you are in the tab "general" , Locate "automatic" From the drop-down menu "Startup type".
- tap on "Start" within Service status , Then “Apply -> OK”.
Note: If the service is already running, disable it using the Stop button, and re-enable it by following step 4.
4. Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter.
Windows has a dedicated search and indexing fixer. Run it to see if it helps.
- Click Menu START YOUR , And type Troubleshooting Settings , then press Enter.
- Open Another troubleshooter.
- Look for Search and indexing And run it.
- Select the issues you are experiencing and click on "the following".
- When prompted, provide a brief description of the issue and click "the following".
- If Windows finds a solution, it automatically repairs the corrupted settings. Check if the file search function is working properly.
- In Windows 10, go to Settings -> Update & Security -> Troubleshoot and select Additional troubleshooters To find this specific option.
5. Rebuilding the search index
Devices running Windows 11 that meet the minimum specifications are known to experience indexing issues. This is caused by: insufficient processing memory , which may lead to the error we're currently discussing. In this case, try rebuilding the search index and see if it helps.
- Click on the Start menu, and type "control Board" , and press Enter.
- Look for Indexing Options Using the search bar in the upper right corner of the window.
- Click on a folder and select "advanced".
- Go to the tab Index Settings And choose "Reconstruction".
- Repeat step 4 for all other folders.
If none of these fixes work for you, you can also try performing a system restore. Windows System Restore On instances of your operating system since it was working properly, allowing you to roll back to the version before the issue occurred.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1: How do I fix high CPU usage in Windows?
answer. If you recently rebuilt the search index or accidentally deleted the index data folder, you may be experiencing high CPU usage in the Windows search index as a result. The first thing you should do in such a situation is to run a full virus scan of your computer. If that doesn't resolve the issue, you may need to restart the search service again, run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter, rebuild the index, or perform an SFC scan, among other things (as described above).
If your problems persist, we have some additional tips that we hope will help you reduce Your computer's CPU usage.
Q2: Can Windows indexing slow down my computer?
answer. Even if your system is running on an SSD, turning off Windows indexing can improve your device's speed and power consumption. However, disabling this feature increases the time it takes for Windows and other applications to return search results. You shouldn't disable it unless Windows indexing is causing serious problems.
Q3: Why is indexing running automatically on my computer all the time?
answer. Windows constantly tracks changes you make to your files and updates its indexing data. This way, Windows doesn't have to search through all your files every time you search for something, but keeps the service running in the background at all times.