# Does the .tasks index still exist in ES 8 and beyond?

**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/does-the-tasks-index-still-exist-in-es-8-and-beyond/385426
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [March 12, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/does-the-tasks-index-still-exist-in-es-8-and-beyond/385426 "2026-03-12T13:58:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![davysteegen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/davysteegen/32/124103_2.png) [@davysteegen](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/davysteegen)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/does-the-tasks-index-still-exist-in-es-8-and-beyond/385426/1 "2026-03-12T13:58:27Z")

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Hi,

We are in the process of migrating our ES 7 to ES 8. The Java application that connects to the elasticsearch had a job that periodically removed all documents from the system `.tasks` index where the `completed` flag is true. From my understanding, the `.tasks` index was populated with records when for example a `deleteByQuery` was issued without waiting for the result.  
It looks like this index does not exist anymore in ES8 as executing `http://localhost:9200/.tasks/_search` returns a response with `index_not_found_exception`. (even after a deleteByQuery was triggered).

Can you confirm if the index no longer exists? If so, that would mean I could remove the job entirely from the application.

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### Author: ![Keith\_Massey](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/keith_massey/32/83666_2.png) [@Keith\_Massey](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Keith_Massey)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/does-the-tasks-index-still-exist-in-es-8-and-beyond/385426/2 "2026-03-12T16:06:52Z")

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It still exists even in 9.x. But since 8.0 (and later versions of 7) it has been a [system index](https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/pull/67351), so I don’t think that you’ll be able to delete from it. Elasticsearch ought to be managing what is in there.

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### Author: ![davysteegen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/davysteegen/32/124103_2.png) [@davysteegen](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/davysteegen)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2026, 8:19pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/does-the-tasks-index-still-exist-in-es-8-and-beyond/385426/3 "2026-03-12T20:19:49Z")

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Great, thanks for the pointer! Then I believe we can safely get rid of the job that removes completed tasks.