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Search Not Working in Network Folder Library on Windows 11 Clients After Recent Updates

НОЧУ ДПО ЦПКиОТ 10 Reputation points
2025-11-05T10:49:04.02+00:00

On a computer running Windows Server 2016, which is part of a domain, I have created a network folder. This folder is configured to index all files so that searches can be performed both by file names and by their contents. On computers within the local network (running Windows 10), this network folder is connected as a Windows library. All users access it without problems and can search for files. Recently, on one computer running Windows 11, a problem occurred — search stopped working in this folder. I restarted the indexing service both on the server itself and on this problematic PC. I ran reindexing of files on both computers. Nothing helps. Meanwhile, search works fine on all other computers. Another detail: in our local network, there is another computer running Windows 11. This computer has a similar network folder but with different data. Several other computers connect to this computer to access this folder. Here everything is similar — folders are connected as Windows libraries. Search works fine everywhere. But this problematic computer also does not search files in this network location. When I try to reconnect this folder as a Windows library, I get an error that the folder is not indexed, so it cannot be connected. But other computers do not have such problems. Indexing actually works on the specified folder on the specified PC. From all this, I concluded that the problem is specifically on the problematic PC. I updated it and ran sfc /scannow to check for errors. Everything is fine. But recently I assembled a new PC and installed Windows 11 on it. I also could not connect these network folders as libraries on it. I get a similar error that the folder is not indexed. Therefore, I now assume that the error is related to recent Windows 11 updates. Also, I get a popup error that library features are limited because the library is in a non-default location. What can be done? Connecting the folder as a network drive is not a problem. The problem is that search in this folder does not work.

Windows for business | Windows Server | Networking | Network connectivity and file sharing
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  1. johnnyjohnny 15 Reputation points
    2025-11-13T08:59:18.83+00:00

    fix for me was 2025-11 Security Update (KB5068861) uninstall (on the client side)

    3 people found this answer helpful.
  2. HBox1000 5 Reputation points
    2025-11-12T20:38:24.3233333+00:00

    The solution provided, adding AllowRemoteIndexing = 1 to

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

    Is not working, uninstalling KB5068861, did restore Library Search functionality.

    Is there any other Settings that need to be in place for the Regedit to work? Maybe something in: Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Search area??

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  3. Domic Vo 11,700 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-05T11:36:20.8866667+00:00

    Hello НОЧУ ДПО ЦПКиОТ,

    Thank you for sharing such a clear and thoughtful breakdown of the issue — it really helps in understanding what’s going on. Based on your description, it sounds like the search problem is tied to recent changes in how Windows 11 handles network folders and libraries, especially when those folders are hosted remotely. Even if the server is indexing properly, Windows 11 may not recognize it unless certain settings are in place. That’s why you’re seeing messages like “folder is not indexed” or “library features are limited,” while everything works fine on Windows 10 machines.

    To fix this, here are some of steps:

    • Enable remote indexing support by adding a registry key called AllowRemoteIndexing under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search and setting its value to 1.
    • After restarting the PC, this change allows Windows 11 to trust the server’s index.
    • Also, make sure the Windows Search service is running on both the server and client.
    • If possible, try adding the network folder to the client’s indexing options manually, though this depends on permissions.

    These limitations are known behaviors in Windows 11 and don’t affect access to the folder, but they do block search functionality. If the issue continues, you might try using a Microsoft-connected account, rolling back recent updates, or using a third-party search tool as a temporary workaround.

    Let me know how it goes, and if this answer helps, feel free to hit “Accept Answer” so others can benefit too 😊

    T&B,

    Domic.

  4. НОЧУ ДПО ЦПКиОТ 10 Reputation points
    2025-11-06T05:26:15.4233333+00:00

    Your understanding is correct. The registry entry you need to create under the key

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

    is not a "section" (key) but a DWORD (32-bit) value named AllowRemoteIndexing, and you set its value to 1. Registry keys themselves cannot have values except their names; values are created inside a key. So you create the DWORD value AllowRemoteIndexing within the Windows Search key and assign it the value 1 to enable the setting.

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