This Windows 10 May 2020 Update feature could speed up old, sluggish PCs
Windows Search will only run outside of peak usage times in Windows 10 version 2004.
What you need to know
- Windows 10 version 2004 can identify peak usage times and manage Windows Search around them.
- The change should make your PC perform faster if it has an HDD.
- Machines with SSDs won't notice as much of a difference, though the feature could help in some cases.
Microsoft's upcoming Windows 10 May 2020 Update includes a feature that will help some devices run better, especially those with older hardware. The upcoming version of Windows 10 will be able to identify peak usage times and manage when Windows Search indexes your system. This should reduce the stress on your system and CPU usage. Devices with older hard disk drives (HDDs) should see the biggest change, but in some cases, the change can help devices with solid-state drives (SSDs).
Windows Latest performed some tests while running several devices with the Windows 10 May 2020 Update. According to their report, devices felt faster and performed better, at least in part due to the change to Windows Search.
HDDs are slower than SSDs, and as a result, can be bogged down by processing like Windows Search indexing. Moving these processes to non-peak times should reduce CPU usage and free up your PC to perform other tasks. Devices with faster SSDs don't suffer from slowdowns caused by Windows Search indexing as much, but the change should help them a bit as well when under heavy workloads.
The Windows 10 May 2020 Update will also stop Windows Search indexing entirely when you're transferring or deleting files, which can help your system run better as well.
More changes to Windows Search are on the way for Windows 10 but will come in future updates. Windows Latest reports that Microsoft is working to improve logic for Windows Search to identify the best times to index files on systems.
The Windows 10 May 2020 Update is just around the corner. If you want to read about all of its changes, make sure to check out our full review
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Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.
Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.
