Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy

Hey, let’s discuss about how to Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy. Microsoft Intune provides many types of Policies. Disable Backoff Policy is a setting that controls how Windows handles search indexing when the system is busy.

If the policy is not changed (default is disabled), the system will automatically reduce the indexing speed when it detects high system activity. This helps keep the computer running smoothly during heavy usage, like when multiple apps or large programs are running.

This policy is helpful in environments where fast and constant indexing is important such as enterprise setups where search performance must stay high. It gives IT admins more control, improves consistency in search results, and helps ensure that devices are always indexing files quickly.

This blog post provides complete guidance on managing the Disable Backoff policy in Microsoft Intune. It is a step-by-step instruction on how to enable or disable this policy, monitor its status, and understand client-side verification.

What are the Advantages of Enabling Backoff Policy using Intune?

When you enable the backoff policy using Intune, it allows Windows to slow down background tasks like search indexing when the system is busy. This helps keep the device running smoothly.

1. Keeps the system fast during heavy work
2. Saves battery on laptops
3. Stops the device from slowing down
4. Helps the device stay cool and last longer
5. Makes sure users don’t face delays
6. Uses system resources smartly

Implementing a backoff policy helps make an organization’s systems more stable and reliable. It stops services from getting too many repeated requests when they are already busy or facing issues. This prevents the whole system from crashing. It also saves network and CPU resources by avoiding unnecessary retries.

CSP Details

The Policy Configuration Service Provider (CSP) is a feature used by organisations to manage and control settings on Windows 10 and 11 devices. It explains Description Framework Properties, Assigned Values, and Group Policy Mapping details.

Description Framework Properties

Property Name	Property Value
Format	Int
Access Type	Add, Delete, Get, Replace
Default value	0

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy- Table.1

Assigned Values

0 (Default) – Disable
1 – Enable

Group Policy Mapping details

Name	Value
Name	DisableBackoff
Friendly Name	Disable indexer backoff
Location	Computer Configuration
Path	Windows Components > Search
Registry Key Name	SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search
Registry Value Name	DisableBackoff
ADMX File Name	Search.admx

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy- Table.2

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Search/DisableBackoff

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy- Fig.1 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy- Fig.1

Create a Profile

To start deploying a policy in Intune, sign in to the Microsoft Intune Admin Center. Then go to Devices> Configuration under the Manage devices> Policies> Create> New policy. In the create a profile window, add the platform Windows and later, profile type is Settings Catalog. Then click the create button.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.2 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy- Fig.2

Basic Tab

To configure a policy in Intune, start with the Basics step, where you enter the policy name (e.g Disable Backoff), and provide a short description (such as To Disable Bakoff Policy). Then click the Next button.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy- Fig.3 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy- Fig.3

Configuration Settings

In the Configuration settings, you can see the Add settings button. Click the Add Settings to browse or search the catalog for the settings you want to configure. In the Settings picker, you can search for the Settings quickly. Here, I choose the Search category, select Disable Backoff to configure it, and then close the Settings Picker window.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.4 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy – Fig.4

Once you have selected Disable Backoff and closed the Settings picker. You will see it on the Configuration page. Here we have only two settings: Enable or Disable. By default, Disable Backoff will be set to Disable. If you want to Disable these settings, click on the Next button.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.5 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy – Fig.5

Enable Backoff Policy

If we Enable or configure this policy, you can Enable the Backoff policy by toggling the switch. After reviewing or adding more settings, you can click the Next button to proceed.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.6 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy – Fig.6

Scope Tab

The scope tag is not mandatory, so you can skip this section. It functions as a tool for organisation and access management, but assigning it is optional. Click Next if they’re not required for your setup.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.7 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy – Fig.7

Assigned a Group for Backoff Policy

In the Assignments tab, you choose the users or devices that will receive the policy by clicking Add Group under Include Group, select the group that you want to target(e.g Test_HTMD_Policy) and then click Next to continue.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.8 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy – Fig.8

Review + Create

In this section, you will find a summary encompassing all the information you provided in the preceding steps, including basic details, configuration settings, assignment details. We click Create to finish, and a notification confirms that the Disable Backoff Created Succesfully.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.9 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy – Fig.9

Device and User Check-in Status

To ascertain the status of a policy, navigate to Devices > Configuration within the Intune portal. Then, choose the relevant policy (such as Disable Backoff ), and confirm that its status indicates Succeeded (1). For a quicker process, utilize manual sync in the Company Portal.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.11 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy – Fig.10

Client Side Verification

To confirm if a policy has been applied, use the Event Viewer on the client device. Go to Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > Device Management > Enterprise Diagnostic Provider > Admin. From the list of policies, use the Filter Current Log option and search for Intune event 813.

MDM PolicyManaqer: Set policy int, Policy: DisableBackoff), Area: (Search), EnrollmentID
requestinq merqe: (EB427D85-802F-46D9-A3E2-D5B414587F63), Current User: (Device), Int: (0x1),
Enrollment Type: (0x6), Scope: (0x0).

How to Remove assigned group from Backoff Policy

If you want to remove the specific group that you previously selected, you can easily do that. First, go to Devices > Configuration policies. In the Configuration policy section, search and select the policy, for example, Disable Backoff. In the Assignment section, you will find an Edit option and click Remove option. Then, click the Review+ Save option.

For detailed information, you can refer to our previous post – Learn How to Delete or Remove App Assignment from Intune using by Step-by-Step Guide.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.12 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy – Fig.12

How to Delete Disable Backoff Policy from Intune

First, search for the policy name(Disable Backoff) in the configuration section. When you find the policy name, you will see a 3-dot menu next to it. Click on the 3 dots, then click the Delete button.

For detailed information, you can refer to our previous post – How to Delete Allow Clipboard History Policy in Intune Step by Step Guide.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.13 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy – Fig.13

OMA-URI Settings to Power Sleep Policy

An OMA-URI is a unique string used to configure specific settings on Windows 10 or 11 devices through a Configuration Service Provider (CSP). Its format is determined by the CSP and is used to apply custom device configurations.

To create a new policy in Microsoft Intune, sign in and navigate to Devices > Configuration. Click on Create to start a new policy. Choose the platform as Windows 10 or later. For the Profile type, select Templates, then choose Custom. Provide a name for the policy, such as Disable Backoff and add a description if needed.

Click on + Add under OMA-URI Settings to configure the specific setting.
To Configure the OMA-URI Setting, do the following
- Enter a name for this setting, such as Disable Backoff
- Description of the setting: To Disable Backoff.
- Enter the following OMA-URI path: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Search/DisableBackoff
- Set the Data type to Integer.
- Enter the value
  - 1 to Enable Backoff.
  - 0 to Disable Backoff.
After entering the above details, click the Save button.

Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune's Backoff Policy - Fig.14 — Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy – Fig.14

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Author

Anoop C Nair has been Microsoft MVP from 2015 onwards for 10 consecutive years! He is a Workplace Solution Architect with more than 22+ years of experience in Workplace technologies. He is also a Blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group Community leader. His primary focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM and Intune. He writes about technologies like Intune, SCCM, Windows, Cloud PC, Windows, Entra, Microsoft Security, Career, etc.

Written by

Anoop C Nair

Anoop C Nair is Workplace Technology solution architect with 25+ years of experience in global enterprise organizations such as JP Morgan, Capgemini, etc. Microsoft Certified Trainer. Microsoft MVP from 2015 onwards for consecutive 11+ years! He also conducts Intune and modern workplace tech training for enterprise organizations. He is Blogger, Speaker, and Founder of HTMD Community and HTMD Conference. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like Intune, Windows, Cloud PC. He writes about technologies like Intune, SCCM, Windows, Cloud PC, Windows, Entra, Microsoft Security.

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Customize Windows Search Indexing Behavior using Intune’s Backoff Policy

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Table of Contents

What are the Advantages of Enabling Backoff Policy using Intune?