Windows .edb file grows too large how to fix

I was presented with the Windows .edb file not long ago, since I mainly use macOS and Linux. This is a pain for some Windows users working on a limited storage space set by their company.

The .edb file in Windows, particularly Windows.edb, is a database file used by the Windows Search service to store indexing information for faster search results. Over time, this file can grow significantly, consuming a lot of disk space. Here’s how to address the issue:

Stop the Windows Search Service

Stopping the Windows Search service will help prevent the .edb file from being in use, allowing you to take action.

1. Open the Start Menu and type services.msc, then press Enter.
2. Scroll down to find Windows Search.
3. Right-click on Windows Search and select Stop.

You can double check the Windows .edb file size if you like located at:

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

Rebuild the Search Index for Windows .edb file

Rebuilding the search index can often resolve issues with the .edb file growing too large.

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Go to Indexing Options.
3. Click on Advanced.
4. Under Troubleshooting, click Rebuild.

Reduce Indexed Locations

You can reduce the number of locations being indexed to prevent the .edb file from growing too large again.

1. Open Indexing Options from the Control Panel.
2. Click Modify.
3. Uncheck unnecessary locations to reduce what gets indexed.
4. Click OK to apply the changes.

You can also try to defrag the the index by using the below commands:

esentutl.exe /d %AllUsersProfile%\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb

1. Run the following command to change the Windows Search service to delayed start:

Sc config wsearch start=delayed-auto

Then start the service:

Net start wsearch

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