Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described, that provide for configuration and switching between multiple groups of search space sets based on activated serving cells or activated resources for one or more serving cells. An access network entity may configure multiple groups of search space sets, and a user equipment (UE) may monitor for control information in an activated search space set group. A first group of search space sets may be activated based on a serving cell being activated, and the UE may switch to a second group of search space sets when the serving cell is deactivated. Search space set group switching also may be performed based on one or more activated bandwidth parts (BWPs). An access network entity may trigger search space set group switching using explicit signaling, based on cell activation/deactivation, based on a timer, or any combinations thereof.