---
title: Reindex a shared index
slug: cms-12/docs/reindex-a-shared-index
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-08-10T15:55:53.000Z
---

The most common case for reindexing involves multiple developers who share a data index in a development environment. For example, a team of developers on the same project shares the same data structure with unified mappings and settings. Implementing this feature lets you reindex without affecting other people's data.

:::hint{type="info"}
- **Prerequisites**
  Optimizely Content Management System (CMS) *Alloy* or Optimizely Customized Commerce *Quicksilver* sample site (CMS 11 and Customized Commerce 13) [installed from the Visual Studio Extension](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/content-management-system/v1.1.0-search-and-navigation/docs/installing-optimizely-legacy-cms-11-and-commerce-13). See also [Install Optimizely (ASP.NET5 Core)](docId\:VuiU-K4aAR6ISGicFg4lk) for CMS 12 and Customized Commerce 14 installation instructions.
- Optimizely Search & Navigation [service URL and default index name](docId\:jO69ztYFtZG_yn5HU2d8o).
- Optimizely Search & Navigation [client-side resource base URL](docId\:I7R7zV8JSYEs5ewsa3oCd).
:::

1. Install the following packages. To get the latest development packages, use **PM>** `Install-Package EPiServer.Find`.
   - `EPiServer.Find`
   - `EPiServer.Find.Cms`
2. Open the Quicksilver or Alloy site's`web.config` file (CMS 11) or `appsettings.json` (CMS 12).
3. Go to `<appSettings>` (CMS 11) and update (add if missing) the following entry:

```json
<add key="episerver:Find.ReindexMySitesOnly" value="true"/>
```

**Possible values**

:::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="2"}
**True** – If the user reindexes the site, the data of other developers sharing that index is unaffected.
:::

:::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="2"}
**False or key missing** – If the user reindexes the site, it wipes out all data.
:::

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
Update the **Search & Navigation Service URL** and the **default index name** by updating  `<episerver.find serviceUrl="" defaultIndex=""/>`.
:::

In CMS 12 `appsettings.json`, add the following:

```json
   "Find": {
     "Cms": {
       "ReindexMySitesOnly": true
     }
   }
```

Alternatively, in CMS 12, you can add this to the `startup.cs` file.

```csharp
services.Configure<EPiServer.Find.Cms.FindCmsOptions>(options => {
  options.ReindexMySitesOnly = true;
});
```

:::hint{type="warning"}
- **Important notes**
  The Optimizely Search & Navigation index is not designed to be shared across sites. Developers can only share it if `ReindexMySiteOnly` is set to **true**.
- Be sure that no property change is made while sharing the data index. This could lead to data loss and possibly a non-operational index.
- For best results, all developers who share a data index should add the `ReindexMySitesOnly` key to their `web.config`. If not, a developer may accidentally remove his teammate’s data.
- Developers cannot share a `SiteDefinition` and copies of a database. We expect developers to share source code but set up different sites.
  If developers want to test with their data, they need to set up a new local site, then manually export/import the site page/content data only.
- Both `ReindexMySitesOnly` and a Service `Url` must be configured, because Search & Navigation cannot distinguish a shared index from an unshared one.
  Without the `ReindexMySitesOnly` setting, Search & Navigation treats the index as normal. So, it clears everything when the re-index function is executed.
:::