Default indexed paths
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 29, 2026
Supported on: Any version of Microsoft Windows with Windows Search 4.0 or later
Path in the GPO console
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Search Description
Enabling this policy allows you to specify a list of paths to index by default. The user may override these paths and exclude them from indexing. On a per-user basis, this policy setting will work only if a protocol handler referencing a SID-based user scope, such as MAPI, is specified. File system paths that do not reference a specific SID will not be included for indexing if these are only specified in the Group Policy under "User Configuration." To include a file system path for indexing, please specify the file system path to be indexed under the "Computer Configuration" Group Policy.
Registry
HKCU
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Default indexed paths
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Any version of Microsoft Windows with Windows Search 4.0 or later
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search\DefaultIndexedPaths]
; List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Default indexed paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Any version of Microsoft Windows with Windows Search 4.0 or later
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search\DefaultIndexedPaths'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
# List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.Intune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Default indexed paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Any version of Microsoft Windows with Windows Search 4.0 or later
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
# HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search\DefaultIndexedPaths: List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.
# No testable registry values are available for this state.
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Default indexed paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Any version of Microsoft Windows with Windows Search 4.0 or later
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search\DefaultIndexedPaths'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
# List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.SCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Default indexed paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Any version of Microsoft Windows with Windows Search 4.0 or later
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Default indexed paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Any version of Microsoft Windows with Windows Search 4.0 or later
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
# HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search\DefaultIndexedPaths: List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.
# No testable registry values are available for this state.
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Default indexed paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Any version of Microsoft Windows with Windows Search 4.0 or later
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search\DefaultIndexedPaths'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
# List values: enter one value per line in the builder UI.Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.