Skip to contentGo to the directory tree
Windows Directory Tree
  1. C:
  2. ProgramData
  3. Microsoft
  4. Search
  5. Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb
FileRisk: Caution

Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb

Windows.edb: the ESE database of the Windows Search index; it can grow very large and rebuilds without losing user data.

Updated on By AltF4 Formation

What it’s for

Windows.edb is the ESE (Extensible Storage Engine) database of the Windows Search index: the properties and content of indexed files, emails and Start menu items. SearchIndexer.exe keeps it open permanently. Its size depends on the number of indexed items and can become very large on a workstation or file server; it is the classic cause of a filling system volume.

What it contains

  • The index itself: an index file is never the source of the data, only its searchable copy.
  • Associated ESE files (transaction logs .log, .jrs, .chk) in the same folder or nearby.
  • No user data of its own: deleting it destroys no file.

Risks and best practices

  • Rebuild through Indexing Options, Rebuild; otherwise stop WSearch, delete the file, restart the service and let indexing start again (incomplete search results, CPU and disk load during the rebuild).
  • To limit growth, reduce the indexed locations, move the index to another volume (Indexing Options, Advanced) or, on a server, disable the service if indexing is not needed.
  • esentutl /mh reads the header: a “Dirty Shutdown” state after a hard stop explains an index that needs rebuilding. Do not try repairing with esentutl /p: rebuilding is simpler and safer.

Useful commands

Fenêtre de terminal
# File size
(Get-Item 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb').Length / 1GB


# Database state (service stopped, as administrator)
Stop-Service WSearch
esentutl /mh 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb'
Start-Service WSearch


# Manual rebuild (as administrator)
Stop-Service WSearch
Remove-Item 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb' -WhatIf
Start-Service WSearch

Report a mistake