The genuine SearchIndexer.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft's "SearchIndexer.exe" process should be located in "C:\Windows\System32." If a running process by this name is in "C:\Program Files", it is absolutely unsafe; in a different subfolder of "C:\Windows", or other locations, it is probably malware but perhaps less dangerous. The legitimate SearchIndexer.exe is launched by the WSearch service, in the background, to create or update the index file located by default in "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search." (SearchIndexer has an option to rebuild the index in a new location.) It is designed to yield control to user activity and work when the system is idle; it may work for hours or days, off and on, until the index is built or fully updated. It in turn launches SearchProtocolHost.exe and SearchIndexHost.exe, which load and execute DLL modules called "protocols" and "filters" that give SearchIndexer its knowledge of how different file types are internally structured so it can extract information to build the Index.
SearchIndexer stands for Windows SearchIndex Builder
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the SearchIndexer.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.
Description: The original SearchIndexer.exe from Microsoft is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. The file SearchIndexer.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 427,520 bytes (27% of all occurrences), 439,808 bytes and 48 more variants.
The process runs as service WSearch in the background. The service provides content indexing, property caching, and search results for files, e-mail, and other content.
The program is not visible. The file is a Microsoft signed file.
Therefore the technical security rating is 4% dangerous; but you should also compare this rating with the user reviews.
Is SearchIndexer.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true SearchIndexer.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "Microsoft Windows Search Indexer".
However, writers of malware programs, such as viruses, worms, and Trojans deliberately give their processes the same file name to escape detection. Viruses with the same file name are for instance Trojan.GenericKDV.1022790 or Application.BitCoinMiner.GO (detected by F-Secure), and WS.Reputation.1 (detected by Symantec).
To ensure that no rogue SearchIndexer.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Virus Scan.
How to recognize suspicious variants?
If SearchIndexer.exe is located in the C:\Windows folder, the security rating is 66% dangerous. The file size is 64,512 bytes (79% of all occurrences) or 175,104 bytes.
The file is not a Windows system file. The program is not visible. There is no description of the program. SearchIndexer.exe is located in the Windows folder, but it is not a Windows core file.
SearchIndexer.exe is able to monitor applications.
If SearchIndexer.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 58% dangerous. The file size is 653,326 bytes (26% of all occurrences), 567,310 bytes and 8 more variants.
The SearchIndexer.exe file is not a Windows system file. There is no information about the author of the file. The program is not visible.
SearchIndexer.exe is able to manipulate other programs, hide itself and record keyboard and mouse inputs.
If SearchIndexer.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 80% dangerous. The file size is 88,323 bytes (66% of all occurrences) or 561,664 bytes.
If SearchIndexer.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 46% dangerous. The file size is 4,096 bytes.
Important: Some malware disguises itself as SearchIndexer.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the SearchIndexer.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.
Score
User Comments
I disable it, also stop it and it still runs, Tell me again how it isn't a virus? Egbert
I just reduced the things it indexes and got 25% of my CPU back (has been higher), in fact it now indexes nothing. XP worked fine without it in fact it was faster despite have 1/4 the CPU speed. As a computer programer I am pretty sure for 99% of user this will only make things. It is like indexing everything in your home so you can find it faster, you shift so much stuff around you can't find anything. Pile of crap. It like defragging, makes no difference and wears the bearings of your hard drive into dust. breon_the _great
Microsoft's attempt to collect data on users by indexing their entire hard drive. Inefficient, unnecessary, and a privacy nightmare. Better to disable Windows Search and install a 3rd-party app, unless you are lucky enough to be using XP or older. George
pc becomes very slowly and RAm is full when active. Just kill it and good...
This is a Windows program which improves Windows Search Engine. Used deribelately it could be really useful and unexpectedly helpful. The only thing you need is to configure it. lapsikoss (further information)
Come on people! Its part of Windows. Its a pain in the but but you shouldnt take it out. You can modify it to only index a few needed things. Look it up in the net. Marvin Von Renchler
Summary: Average user rating of SearchIndexer.exe:
based on 68 votes with 9 user comments.
12 users think SearchIndexer.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
3 users think it's probably harmless.
32 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
15 users suspect danger.
6 users think SearchIndexer.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
5 users don't grade SearchIndexer.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving SearchIndexer issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with SearchIndexer. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.
Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.
To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.
To help you analyze the SearchIndexer.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.
Score
User Comments
Egbert
(further information)
breon_the _great
George
(further information)
lapsikoss (further information)
Marvin Von Renchler
(further information)
Summary: Average user rating of SearchIndexer.exe: based on 68 votes with 9 user comments. 12 users think SearchIndexer.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 3 users think it's probably harmless. 32 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 15 users suspect danger. 6 users think SearchIndexer.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 5 users don't grade SearchIndexer.exe ("not sure about it").