# What if change index.number\_of\_shards(increase/decrease)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [October 31, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-if-change-index-number-of-shards-increase-decrease/14183 "2013-10-31T03:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jun\_Liu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Jun\_Liu](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Jun_Liu)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-if-change-index-number-of-shards-increase-decrease/14183/1 "2013-10-31T03:25:31Z")
If change this setting and restart the cluster, what's the side effect? Is it will only take effect on new index? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-if-change-index-number-of-shards-increase-decrease/14183/2 "2013-10-31T04:09:02Z")
No effect on existing indices. Will be applied for new ones. That said, I'd prefer using templates then modifying elasticsearch.yml file on each node. -- David 😉 Twitter : @dadoonet / @elasticsearchfr / @scrutmydocs Le 31 oct. 2013 à 04:25, Jun Liu [junliu44@gmail.com](mailto:junliu44@gmail.com) a écrit : > If change this setting and restart the cluster, what's the side effect? > > ## Is it will only take effect on new index? > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-if-change-index-number-of-shards-increase-decrease/14183/3 "2017-07-06T02:09:40Z")
Closed on July 6, 2017, 2:09am UTC