I noticed the 'Windows search filter host' running strong on my CPU at random times, 'indexing' files - not sure what that means really - so I googled a bit and apparently some people actually disable this process via the 'services.msc' panel.
Does it affect my system in any way if I disable it ?
3 Answers
It does not stop the searching function, but no longer indexes new files.
I Just disabled it and stopped the service and Windows search still works.
1Does it affect my system in any way if I disable it?
By disabling the service in question you will disable your ability to search for indexed files using File Explorer.
This will also disable your ability to perform searches within Outlook.
It's absurd that I have to offer an answer in order to supply this information--which would be better suited as a comment:
It's highly likely that third-party file managers (like Total Commander or Explorer++) utilize the Windows Search functionality for their own search functions. As Ramhound points out, disabling Windows Search will prevent the search functionality from working, which may impact these other file managers (indeed, any third-party application which uses Windows Search, of which there may be many).
That being said, I've disabled it myself in the past, and it didn't break anything permanently. You should probably be fine, but if you notice applications acting oddly a month from now, you know who to blame.
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