Magento 2 Index Optimization: Tips + One-Click Index Manager Module

Magento 2 Indexing: Modes, Performance, and Batch Size Optimization

Magento is a flexible and powerful e-commerce platform. But to ensure smooth performance, especially as your catalog grows, it’s essential to understand how Magento’s indexing system works. Indexes help Magento retrieve data faster, reduce the load on the database, and improve both frontend speed and backend operations.

In this article, we’ll explain:

  • What Magento indexes are and why they matter

  • The difference between On Save and On Schedule indexing modes

  • How batch size affects indexing time and server performance

  • How the AdvancedIndexManager module helps you manage indexes more efficiently

What Are Magento Indexes?

Magento uses several types of indexes to store pre-calculated data in dedicated tables. These indexes avoid heavy real-time database queries, which can slow down your site. Each index focuses on a specific area of your store.

Here are the main Magento indexes:

  • Product Price Index: Keeps product pricing up to date, especially when promotions or catalog price rules are applied.

  • Catalog URL Rewrites: Generates clean and SEO-friendly URLs for products and categories.

  • Category Products Index: Links products to categories to ensure fast loading of category pages.

  • Product Attribute (EAV) Index: Supports filtering and layered navigation, especially useful in large catalogs.

  • Catalog Search Index: Speeds up search results and improves accuracy.

  • Customer Group Price Index: Displays the correct prices for different customer segments, such as wholesale or VIP customers.

Indexing Modes: On Save vs. On Schedule

Magento allows you to choose between two indexing modes: On Save and On Schedule. Each has its advantages depending on how your store operates.

On Save

With this mode, indexes are updated immediately when you make changes to products, categories, or related entities.

Advantages:

  • Changes appear instantly on the frontend

  • Useful during promotions or campaigns where timing is critical

Disadvantages:

  • Can slow down the admin panel, especially during large updates

  • May increase server load during peak activity

On Schedule

Here, indexing is handled by scheduled tasks (via cron jobs), usually every few minutes.

Advantages:

  • Reduces the load during product edits or imports

  • Maintains smoother performance for both backend and frontend

Disadvantages:

  • Changes are not reflected immediately

  • Requires a working cron setup

For most stores, On Schedule is the better long-term choice. It avoids unnecessary load during busy periods. On Save is better suited for short-term use when immediate updates are needed.

Why Batch Size Matters

Magento processes data in batches during indexing. The batch size determines how many items are processed in each cycle. This setting has a direct impact on how long indexing takes and how it affects your server.

  • A small batch size means longer indexing time, but with lower server impact.

  • A large batch size speeds up indexing but may consume more memory or cause timeouts on weaker servers.

Tuning the batch size for each index type can help you reach a better balance between speed and stability.

For example:
A store with 40,000 products reduced its indexing time by nearly 50% after increasing the batch size from 200 to 800, without affecting server performance.

Unfortunately, Magento doesn’t offer an easy way to adjust these values natively — and that’s where AdvancedIndexManager becomes useful.

Managing Indexes with AdvancedIndexManager

AdvancedIndexManager is a Magento 2 module designed to give you more control over how indexing works.

It allows you to:

  • Adjust batch size per index to match your store’s capacity

  • View indexing logs to understand how long each index takes

  • Get suggestions for better batch size values based on your data

  • Control everything from the admin panel without using command-line tools

This is especially helpful if your store has thousands of products or frequent catalog changes. Instead of dealing with delays or server strain, you can configure your indexing to match your needs.

Conclusion

Magento indexing is a key part of your store’s performance and stability. Choosing the right indexing mode and setting an appropriate batch size can help you avoid unnecessary slowdowns and keep your store responsive.

With a tool like AdvancedIndexManager, you can take control of indexing without needing to dive into technical settings. Whether you're running a small shop or a large catalog, optimized indexing will make daily operations faster and more reliable.

→ Learn more about AdvancedIndexManager