How to add encrypted files to the search index in Windows 11/10

What is the purpose of encrypting the files? The files are encrypted because no one can access this file except those who have the password to open this file. Windows also does not allow such encrypted files to appear in search results if someone searches Windows. This is because indexing of encrypted files is not enabled in Windows by default. If you want to add the encrypted files to the index in Windows, this post will help you to do so.

How to add encrypted files for indexing in Windows 11/10

Step 1: Press Windows key on your keyboard and type indexing options.

Step 2: Then press the Get into wrench.

Step 3: click Advanced at the bottom of the indexing options window, as shown below.

Step 4: select the Index Settings tab and check the Index encrypted files check box to continue.

Step 5: click Continue to continue and allow indexing of encrypted files.

Step 6: Now you can see that the checkbox Index encrypted files is checked and then click OK button as shown below.

Step 7: Once done, it will start to index all the items and this will take some time, so please wait patiently for it to finish.

Step 8: After indexing is complete, click To close to close the indexing options window.

That is all.

From now on, you can search for any encrypted file using Windows search.

I hope this post is informative and let us know in the comment section below.

Thank you for reading!