How to Exclude OneDrive for Business Folder from Search Index in Windows 11

Tim Travis 1 Reputation point
2022-09-01T18:25:14.54+00:00

I have a shortcut to a rather large SharePoint Online document library in my OneDrive for Business folder and it's REALLY slowing down searches, search indexing, and driving system resource utilization through the roof. I don't need anything in OneDrive to be indexed or to appear in searches, but OneDrive for Business doesn't appear in the list of directories that can be excluded from indexing on the "Change selected locations" settings page at Indexing Options > Advanced > Change selected locations. Is there a different way to exclude OneDrive for Business files from being indexed?

Just to confirm, I'm running Windows 11 Enterprise version 22H2 and I have the Files On-Demand feature enabled in OneDrive for Business.

I also posted this question in the OneDrive for Business forum at answers.microsoft.com, and a Microsoft Agent recommended I share the issue on this site as well. A link to the original post is below.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/how-to-exclude-onedrive-for-business-folder-from/ca1dd720-1a4f-41da-a270-b2d90e7845f6

Windows 365 Business
OneDrive Management
OneDrive Management
OneDrive: A Microsoft file hosting and synchronization service.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
1,130 questions
Windows 11
Windows 11
A Microsoft operating system designed for productivity, creativity, and ease of use.
8,182 questions

4 answers

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  1. Emily Hua-MSFT 27,526 Reputation points
    2022-09-02T09:45:40.53+00:00

    Hi @Tim Travis

    Welcome to Q&A forum ~
    I mainly handle issues of Office and OneDrive on Q&A forum.

    This issue is more related to Windows, I suggest you wait for Windows experts to share their suggestions.

    I personally suggest you check whether turning off searching the content on services the Work or school Account is helpful.
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    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. S.Sengupta 15,191 Reputation points MVP
    2022-09-02T01:03:55.653+00:00

    In OneDrive, and OneDrive for Business, it's the whole thing that is always index and searched.

    https://office365itpros.com/2022/06/10/onedrive-for-business-recycle-bin/

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  3. Limitless Technology 39,356 Reputation points
    2022-09-05T07:27:10.66+00:00

    Hello there,

    If you have mapped your OneDrive as one of your drive then you can exclude it from the Search .

    -Right-click on the drive that you want to disable content indexing for and select Properties.
    -Remove the checkmark from "Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties".
    -Select Apply and then Ok.

    Can you temporarily disable file on demand and see if that excludes the OneDrive.

    I hope this information helps. If you have any questions please let me know and I will be glad to help you out.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    --If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept it as an answer--

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  4. Christopher 0 Reputation points
    2024-04-10T13:53:15.2566667+00:00

    Open Outlook --> Options --> Search --> "Indexoptions?" on the right side

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    There should be also a mark at (C:). by opening the dropdown path you will find the mark at One Drive --> unselect it.

    After that restart the indexing --> done.
    2

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