Prevent Windows Search from indexing PST contents in Outlook

Running Windows 8.1 with Windows Search, and Office 2013 with more that 20GB in more than 10 PSTs and OSTs, searching becomes very slow after indexing everything. Reindexing has no change. If I exclude Outlook it's very fast.

There is an option in Outlook search ribbon -> Search Tools -> Locations to search. I removed most of the PSTs (accounting for 75% of the contents), but still ALL PSTs and OSTs get indexed (although they won't be searched).

This makes using Windows Search nearly impossible (e.g. searching using the charm thing takes 30 seconds).

How can I have Windows Search index ONLY the PSTs and OSTs that I specifically want?

Is there any configuration, registry stuff or programatic workaround to exclude from indexing (not searching)?

Than

April 15th, 2015 8:09pm

Hello,

Yes, you can surely prevent some files from indexing during the search. For this, you need to change some settings from the control panel. 

Move to the "Control Panel" >> "Indexing options" >> "Modify".

From there you can mark or unmark the files you wish or wish not to index respectively.

Thanks & Regards

Clark Kent

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April 16th, 2015 12:58am

Hello Clark,

I need a way to stop indexing Outlook specific PST messages and objects, not files.

That wizard only allows file selection, not Outlook specific configuration.

Cheers,

Andy

April 16th, 2015 7:13am

Start --> Indexing option --> Modify --> Uncheck Microsoft applicaiton/Outlook. 

Indexing will stop. 

- Senthil. 

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April 16th, 2015 7:59am
But I don't want to stop indexing Outlook. I just want to be able to CHOOSE which PST and OST files I want to index.
April 16th, 2015 8:01am

Hi Andy, 

If you uncheck that option, indexing will stop but you can search the emails in Outlook. 

- Senthil. 

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April 16th, 2015 8:04am
But it's very slow. I want Windows Search to continue to index Outlook, but only specific PST and OST files, and exclude other PST and OST files from indexing.
April 16th, 2015 9:01am

Hi AndyPT,

As far as I can tell, there is no such method to choose which .pst or .ost files to be indexed, we can only make it all or none.

As mentioned by Senthil, it can be a workaround to stop indexing Outlook, the Search function still works, though it will be a bit slower.

Regards,

Melon Chen

Forum Support

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April 19th, 2015 10:02pm

Hello Melon Chen,

In some PSTs I have over 100k items (this is on purpose), and searching without index is impossible.

What I need is to exclude some (but not all) of these PSTs and OSTs from being indexed by Windows Search.

I'll be happy with a registry hack or a programatic workaround...

Thank you.

April 20th, 2015 9:16am

Hi,

Still, as mentioned above, I don't have such a method to choose which to be included in Indexing and which to be excluded.

The only thing that I find which is close to your request is this:

If the method above isn't helpful in your scenario(as you mentioned), you can try some 3rd-party tools/add-ins to realize a new search function which may meet your request.

Regards,

Melon Chen

Forum Support

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April 21st, 2015 8:59am

Hello Melon Chen,

I mencioned those switches in "Location to search" in the original question.

Even removing the switches, all PSTs are still indexed. If I must index everything, I don't mind seeing results from everything. The problem is that it slows the computer down drastically.

This should really be addressed by the Windows or Office development teams.

Thanks anyway.

April 21st, 2015 9:47am

Hi,

I understand the current design of the product may not satisfy your request, but please be assured that any improvements in the product are based on users' requirements. Our developers strive to capture Microsoft users' ideas and are working hard to create a more powerful and easy-to-use product.

Regards,

Melon Chen

Forum Support

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April 21st, 2015 9:51am

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