Various methods and systems for updating a search engine index based on a file change log are disclosed. One method involves accessing a file, which stores a file change log maintained by a file system. The file change log identifies one or more recently modified files. The method also involves updating an index, based on a recently-modified file identified in the file change log. The index is used to search files maintained by the file system. An application external to the file system accesses the file storing the file change log and updates the index.