diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/DisabledChangeIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/DisabledChangeIndex.java
index d39edec937..a32c6d13d4 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/DisabledChangeIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/DisabledChangeIndex.java
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import com.google.gerrit.index.query.QueryParseException;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Change;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.index.change.ChangeIndex;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.query.change.ChangeData;
-import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Optional;
 
 /**
@@ -53,17 +52,17 @@ public class DisabledChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(ChangeData obj) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(ChangeData obj) {
     throw new UnsupportedOperationException("ChangeIndex is disabled");
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void delete(Change.Id key) throws IOException {
+  public void delete(Change.Id key) {
     throw new UnsupportedOperationException("ChangeIndex is disabled");
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void deleteAll() throws IOException {
+  public void deleteAll() {
     throw new UnsupportedOperationException("ChangeIndex is disabled");
   }
 
@@ -74,12 +73,12 @@ public class DisabledChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void markReady(boolean ready) throws IOException {
+  public void markReady(boolean ready) {
     throw new UnsupportedOperationException("ChangeIndex is disabled");
   }
 
   @Override
-  public Optional<ChangeData> get(Change.Id key, QueryOptions opts) throws IOException {
+  public Optional<ChangeData> get(Change.Id key, QueryOptions opts) {
     throw new UnsupportedOperationException("ChangeIndex is disabled");
   }
 }
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/ReadOnlyChangeIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/ReadOnlyChangeIndex.java
index d4fd318c64..19910db042 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/ReadOnlyChangeIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/ReadOnlyChangeIndex.java
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import com.google.gerrit.index.query.QueryParseException;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Change;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.index.change.ChangeIndex;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.query.change.ChangeData;
-import java.io.IOException;
 
 class ReadOnlyChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
   private final ChangeIndex index;
@@ -46,17 +45,17 @@ class ReadOnlyChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(ChangeData obj) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(ChangeData obj) {
     // do nothing
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void delete(Change.Id key) throws IOException {
+  public void delete(Change.Id key) {
     // do nothing
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void deleteAll() throws IOException {
+  public void deleteAll() {
     // do nothing
   }
 
@@ -67,7 +66,7 @@ class ReadOnlyChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void markReady(boolean ready) throws IOException {
+  public void markReady(boolean ready) {
     // do nothing
   }
 }
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/AbstractElasticIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/AbstractElasticIndex.java
index b678211c5e..86f1083d01 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/AbstractElasticIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/AbstractElasticIndex.java
@@ -167,23 +167,23 @@ abstract class AbstractElasticIndex<K, V> implements Index<K, V> {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void markReady(boolean ready) throws IOException {
+  public void markReady(boolean ready) {
     IndexUtils.setReady(sitePaths, indexNameRaw, schema.getVersion(), ready);
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void delete(K id) throws IOException {
+  public void delete(K id) {
     String uri = getURI(type, BULK);
     Response response = postRequest(uri, getDeleteActions(id), getRefreshParam());
     int statusCode = response.getStatusLine().getStatusCode();
     if (statusCode != HttpStatus.SC_OK) {
-      throw new IOException(
+      throw new StorageException(
           String.format("Failed to delete %s from index %s: %s", id, indexName, statusCode));
     }
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void deleteAll() throws IOException {
+  public void deleteAll() {
     // Delete the index, if it exists.
     String endpoint = indexName + client.adapter().indicesExistParam();
     Response response = performRequest("HEAD", endpoint);
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ abstract class AbstractElasticIndex<K, V> implements Index<K, V> {
       response = performRequest("DELETE", indexName);
       statusCode = response.getStatusLine().getStatusCode();
       if (statusCode != HttpStatus.SC_OK) {
-        throw new IOException(
+        throw new StorageException(
             String.format("Failed to delete index %s: %s", indexName, statusCode));
       }
     }
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ abstract class AbstractElasticIndex<K, V> implements Index<K, V> {
     statusCode = response.getStatusLine().getStatusCode();
     if (statusCode != HttpStatus.SC_OK) {
       String error = String.format("Failed to create index %s: %s", indexName, statusCode);
-      throw new IOException(error);
+      throw new StorageException(error);
     }
   }
 
@@ -307,21 +307,24 @@ abstract class AbstractElasticIndex<K, V> implements Index<K, V> {
     return sortArray;
   }
 
-  protected String getURI(String type, String request) throws UnsupportedEncodingException {
-    String encodedIndexName = URLEncoder.encode(indexName, UTF_8.toString());
-    if (SEARCH.equals(request) && client.adapter().omitTypeFromSearch()) {
-      return encodedIndexName + "/" + request;
+  protected String getURI(String type, String request) {
+    try {
+      String encodedIndexName = URLEncoder.encode(indexName, UTF_8.toString());
+      if (SEARCH.equals(request) && client.adapter().omitTypeFromSearch()) {
+        return encodedIndexName + "/" + request;
+      }
+      String encodedType = URLEncoder.encode(type, UTF_8.toString());
+      return encodedIndexName + "/" + encodedType + "/" + request;
+    } catch (UnsupportedEncodingException e) {
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
-    String encodedType = URLEncoder.encode(type, UTF_8.toString());
-    return encodedIndexName + "/" + encodedType + "/" + request;
   }
 
-  protected Response postRequest(String uri, Object payload) throws IOException {
+  protected Response postRequest(String uri, Object payload) {
     return performRequest("POST", uri, payload);
   }
 
-  protected Response postRequest(String uri, Object payload, Map<String, String> params)
-      throws IOException {
+  protected Response postRequest(String uri, Object payload, Map<String, String> params) {
     return performRequest("POST", uri, payload, params);
   }
 
@@ -329,18 +332,16 @@ abstract class AbstractElasticIndex<K, V> implements Index<K, V> {
     return target.substring(0, target.length() - 1) + "," + addition.substring(1);
   }
 
-  private Response performRequest(String method, String uri) throws IOException {
+  private Response performRequest(String method, String uri) {
     return performRequest(method, uri, null);
   }
 
-  private Response performRequest(String method, String uri, @Nullable Object payload)
-      throws IOException {
+  private Response performRequest(String method, String uri, @Nullable Object payload) {
     return performRequest(method, uri, payload, Collections.emptyMap());
   }
 
   private Response performRequest(
-      String method, String uri, @Nullable Object payload, Map<String, String> params)
-      throws IOException {
+      String method, String uri, @Nullable Object payload, Map<String, String> params) {
     Request request = new Request(method, uri.startsWith("/") ? uri : "/" + uri);
     if (payload != null) {
       String payloadStr = payload instanceof String ? (String) payload : payload.toString();
@@ -349,7 +350,11 @@ abstract class AbstractElasticIndex<K, V> implements Index<K, V> {
     for (Map.Entry<String, String> entry : params.entrySet()) {
       request.addParameter(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue());
     }
-    return client.get().performRequest(request);
+    try {
+      return client.get().performRequest(request);
+    } catch (IOException e) {
+      throw new StorageException(e);
+    }
   }
 
   protected class ElasticQuerySource implements DataSource<V> {
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticAccountIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticAccountIndex.java
index d0b70ae6bd..c25aa9012b 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticAccountIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticAccountIndex.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.ElasticMapping.MappingProperties;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.BulkRequest;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.IndexRequest;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.UpdateRequest;
+import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.QueryOptions;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.Schema;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.query.DataSource;
@@ -38,7 +39,6 @@ import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import com.google.inject.Provider;
 import com.google.inject.assistedinject.Assisted;
-import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Set;
 import org.apache.http.HttpStatus;
 import org.elasticsearch.client.Response;
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public class ElasticAccountIndex extends AbstractElasticIndex<Account.Id, Accoun
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(AccountState as) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(AccountState as) {
     BulkRequest bulk =
         new IndexRequest(getId(as), indexName, type, client.adapter())
             .add(new UpdateRequest<>(schema, as));
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public class ElasticAccountIndex extends AbstractElasticIndex<Account.Id, Accoun
     Response response = postRequest(uri, bulk, getRefreshParam());
     int statusCode = response.getStatusLine().getStatusCode();
     if (statusCode != HttpStatus.SC_OK) {
-      throw new IOException(
+      throw new StorageException(
           String.format(
               "Failed to replace account %s in index %s: %s",
               as.getAccount().getId(), indexName, statusCode));
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticChangeIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticChangeIndex.java
index bcbc630732..57823991d5 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticChangeIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticChangeIndex.java
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.BulkRequest;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.DeleteRequest;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.IndexRequest;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.UpdateRequest;
+import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.QueryOptions;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.Schema;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.query.DataSource;
@@ -59,7 +60,6 @@ import com.google.gson.JsonElement;
 import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import com.google.inject.assistedinject.Assisted;
-import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Optional;
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class ElasticChangeIndex extends AbstractElasticIndex<Change.Id, ChangeData>
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(ChangeData cd) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(ChangeData cd) {
     String deleteIndex;
     String insertIndex;
 
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class ElasticChangeIndex extends AbstractElasticIndex<Change.Id, ChangeData>
     Response response = postRequest(uri, bulk, getRefreshParam());
     int statusCode = response.getStatusLine().getStatusCode();
     if (statusCode != HttpStatus.SC_OK) {
-      throw new IOException(
+      throw new StorageException(
           String.format(
               "Failed to replace change %s in index %s: %s", cd.getId(), indexName, statusCode));
     }
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticGroupIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticGroupIndex.java
index e74f2084fa..ecda1ee55a 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticGroupIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticGroupIndex.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.ElasticMapping.MappingProperties;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.BulkRequest;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.IndexRequest;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.UpdateRequest;
+import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.QueryOptions;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.Schema;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.query.DataSource;
@@ -36,7 +37,6 @@ import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import com.google.inject.Provider;
 import com.google.inject.assistedinject.Assisted;
-import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Set;
 import org.apache.http.HttpStatus;
 import org.elasticsearch.client.Response;
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public class ElasticGroupIndex extends AbstractElasticIndex<AccountGroup.UUID, I
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(InternalGroup group) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(InternalGroup group) {
     BulkRequest bulk =
         new IndexRequest(getId(group), indexName, type, client.adapter())
             .add(new UpdateRequest<>(schema, group));
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public class ElasticGroupIndex extends AbstractElasticIndex<AccountGroup.UUID, I
     Response response = postRequest(uri, bulk, getRefreshParam());
     int statusCode = response.getStatusLine().getStatusCode();
     if (statusCode != HttpStatus.SC_OK) {
-      throw new IOException(
+      throw new StorageException(
           String.format(
               "Failed to replace group %s in index %s: %s",
               group.getGroupUUID().get(), indexName, statusCode));
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticProjectIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticProjectIndex.java
index 8510559791..daf3702342 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticProjectIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/elasticsearch/ElasticProjectIndex.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.ElasticMapping.MappingProperties;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.BulkRequest;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.IndexRequest;
 import com.google.gerrit.elasticsearch.bulk.UpdateRequest;
+import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.QueryOptions;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.Schema;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.project.ProjectData;
@@ -36,7 +37,6 @@ import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import com.google.inject.Provider;
 import com.google.inject.assistedinject.Assisted;
-import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Set;
 import org.apache.http.HttpStatus;
 import org.elasticsearch.client.Response;
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public class ElasticProjectIndex extends AbstractElasticIndex<Project.NameKey, P
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(ProjectData projectState) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(ProjectData projectState) {
     BulkRequest bulk =
         new IndexRequest(projectState.getProject().getName(), indexName, type, client.adapter())
             .add(new UpdateRequest<>(schema, projectState));
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public class ElasticProjectIndex extends AbstractElasticIndex<Project.NameKey, P
     Response response = postRequest(uri, bulk, getRefreshParam());
     int statusCode = response.getStatusLine().getStatusCode();
     if (statusCode != HttpStatus.SC_OK) {
-      throw new IOException(
+      throw new StorageException(
           String.format(
               "Failed to replace project %s in index %s: %s",
               projectState.getProject().getName(), indexName, statusCode));
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/index/Index.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/index/Index.java
index e78604990a..44f8b4236e 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/index/Index.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/index/Index.java
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import com.google.gerrit.index.query.FieldBundle;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.query.IndexPredicate;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.query.Predicate;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.query.QueryParseException;
-import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Optional;
 
 /**
@@ -48,24 +47,18 @@ public interface Index<K, V> {
    * searchers, but should be visible within a reasonable amount of time.
    *
    * @param obj document object
-   * @throws IOException
    */
-  void replace(V obj) throws IOException;
+  void replace(V obj);
 
   /**
    * Delete a document from the index by key.
    *
    * @param key document key
-   * @throws IOException
    */
-  void delete(K key) throws IOException;
+  void delete(K key);
 
-  /**
-   * Delete all documents from the index.
-   *
-   * @throws IOException
-   */
-  void deleteAll() throws IOException;
+  /** Delete all documents from the index. */
+  void deleteAll();
 
   /**
    * Convert the given operator predicate into a source searching the index and returning only the
@@ -91,20 +84,17 @@ public interface Index<K, V> {
    * @param opts query options. Options that do not make sense in the context of a single document,
    *     such as start, will be ignored.
    * @return a single document if present.
-   * @throws IOException
    */
-  default Optional<V> get(K key, QueryOptions opts) throws IOException {
+  default Optional<V> get(K key, QueryOptions opts) {
     opts = opts.withStart(0).withLimit(2);
     ImmutableList<V> results;
     try {
       results = getSource(keyPredicate(key), opts).read().toList();
     } catch (QueryParseException e) {
-      throw new IOException("Unexpected QueryParseException during get()", e);
-    } catch (StorageException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+      throw new StorageException("Unexpected QueryParseException during get()", e);
     }
     if (results.size() > 1) {
-      throw new IOException("Multiple results found in index for key " + key + ": " + results);
+      throw new StorageException("Multiple results found in index for key " + key + ": " + results);
     }
     return results.stream().findFirst();
   }
@@ -116,20 +106,17 @@ public interface Index<K, V> {
    * @param opts query options. Options that do not make sense in the context of a single document,
    *     such as start, will be ignored.
    * @return an abstraction of a raw index document to retrieve fields from.
-   * @throws IOException
    */
-  default Optional<FieldBundle> getRaw(K key, QueryOptions opts) throws IOException {
+  default Optional<FieldBundle> getRaw(K key, QueryOptions opts) {
     opts = opts.withStart(0).withLimit(2);
     ImmutableList<FieldBundle> results;
     try {
       results = getSource(keyPredicate(key), opts).readRaw().toList();
     } catch (QueryParseException e) {
-      throw new IOException("Unexpected QueryParseException during get()", e);
-    } catch (StorageException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+      throw new StorageException("Unexpected QueryParseException during get()", e);
     }
     if (results.size() > 1) {
-      throw new IOException("Multiple results found in index for key " + key + ": " + results);
+      throw new StorageException("Multiple results found in index for key " + key + ": " + results);
     }
     return results.stream().findFirst();
   }
@@ -146,7 +133,6 @@ public interface Index<K, V> {
    * Mark whether this index is up-to-date and ready to serve reads.
    *
    * @param ready whether the index is ready
-   * @throws IOException
    */
-  void markReady(boolean ready) throws IOException;
+  void markReady(boolean ready);
 }
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/index/Schema.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/index/Schema.java
index 821e8204b8..e633bfaf85 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/index/Schema.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/index/Schema.java
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import com.google.common.collect.FluentIterable;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableMap;
 import com.google.common.flogger.FluentLogger;
-import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collections;
@@ -179,7 +178,7 @@ public class Schema<T> {
               Object v;
               try {
                 v = f.get(obj);
-              } catch (StorageException e) {
+              } catch (RuntimeException e) {
                 logger.atSevere().withCause(e).log(
                     "error getting field %s of %s", f.getName(), obj);
                 return null;
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/AbstractLuceneIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/AbstractLuceneIndex.java
index 8d18cac6af..7a0430c701 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/AbstractLuceneIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/AbstractLuceneIndex.java
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractLuceneIndex<K, V> implements Index<K, V> {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void markReady(boolean ready) throws IOException {
+  public void markReady(boolean ready) {
     IndexUtils.setReady(sitePaths, name, schema.getVersion(), ready);
   }
 
@@ -287,8 +287,12 @@ public abstract class AbstractLuceneIndex<K, V> implements Index<K, V> {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void deleteAll() throws IOException {
-    writer.deleteAll();
+  public void deleteAll() {
+    try {
+      writer.deleteAll();
+    } catch (IOException e) {
+      throw new StorageException(e);
+    }
   }
 
   public IndexWriter getWriter() {
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/ChangeSubIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/ChangeSubIndex.java
index 7d7cbef64f..98424b5e1c 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/ChangeSubIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/ChangeSubIndex.java
@@ -71,12 +71,12 @@ public class ChangeSubIndex extends AbstractLuceneIndex<Change.Id, ChangeData>
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(ChangeData obj) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(ChangeData obj) {
     throw new UnsupportedOperationException("don't use ChangeSubIndex directly");
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void delete(Change.Id key) throws IOException {
+  public void delete(Change.Id key) {
     throw new UnsupportedOperationException("don't use ChangeSubIndex directly");
   }
 
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneAccountIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneAccountIndex.java
index 86a21115c5..0b787b6e18 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneAccountIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneAccountIndex.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import static com.google.gerrit.server.index.account.AccountField.FULL_NAME;
 import static com.google.gerrit.server.index.account.AccountField.ID;
 import static com.google.gerrit.server.index.account.AccountField.PREFERRED_EMAIL_EXACT;
 
+import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.FieldDef;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.QueryOptions;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.Schema;
@@ -120,20 +121,20 @@ public class LuceneAccountIndex extends AbstractLuceneIndex<Account.Id, AccountS
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(AccountState as) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(AccountState as) {
     try {
       replace(idTerm(as), toDocument(as)).get();
     } catch (ExecutionException | InterruptedException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void delete(Account.Id key) throws IOException {
+  public void delete(Account.Id key) {
     try {
       delete(idTerm(key)).get();
     } catch (ExecutionException | InterruptedException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneChangeIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneChangeIndex.java
index 8c6e351933..8bf0b6b100 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneChangeIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneChangeIndex.java
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ public class LuceneChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(ChangeData cd) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(ChangeData cd) {
     Term id = LuceneChangeIndex.idTerm(cd);
     // toDocument is essentially static and doesn't depend on the specific
     // sub-index, so just pick one.
@@ -211,23 +211,23 @@ public class LuceneChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
       } else {
         Futures.allAsList(openIndex.delete(id), closedIndex.replace(id, doc)).get();
       }
-    } catch (StorageException | ExecutionException | InterruptedException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+    } catch (ExecutionException | InterruptedException e) {
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void delete(Change.Id id) throws IOException {
+  public void delete(Change.Id id) {
     Term idTerm = LuceneChangeIndex.idTerm(id);
     try {
       Futures.allAsList(openIndex.delete(idTerm), closedIndex.delete(idTerm)).get();
     } catch (ExecutionException | InterruptedException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void deleteAll() throws IOException {
+  public void deleteAll() {
     openIndex.deleteAll();
     closedIndex.deleteAll();
   }
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ public class LuceneChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void markReady(boolean ready) throws IOException {
+  public void markReady(boolean ready) {
     // Arbitrary done on open index, as ready bit is set
     // per index and not sub index
     openIndex.markReady(ready);
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneGroupIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneGroupIndex.java
index 95e2ab903e..0fdef77b96 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneGroupIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneGroupIndex.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package com.google.gerrit.lucene;
 import static com.google.common.collect.Iterables.getOnlyElement;
 import static com.google.gerrit.server.index.group.GroupField.UUID;
 
+import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.FieldDef;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.QueryOptions;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.Schema;
@@ -110,20 +111,20 @@ public class LuceneGroupIndex extends AbstractLuceneIndex<AccountGroup.UUID, Int
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(InternalGroup group) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(InternalGroup group) {
     try {
       replace(idTerm(group), toDocument(group)).get();
     } catch (ExecutionException | InterruptedException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void delete(AccountGroup.UUID key) throws IOException {
+  public void delete(AccountGroup.UUID key) {
     try {
       delete(idTerm(key)).get();
     } catch (ExecutionException | InterruptedException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneProjectIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneProjectIndex.java
index 02d86552f8..950e2060ca 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneProjectIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/lucene/LuceneProjectIndex.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package com.google.gerrit.lucene;
 import static com.google.common.collect.Iterables.getOnlyElement;
 import static com.google.gerrit.index.project.ProjectField.NAME;
 
+import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.FieldDef;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.QueryOptions;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.Schema;
@@ -110,20 +111,20 @@ public class LuceneProjectIndex extends AbstractLuceneIndex<Project.NameKey, Pro
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(ProjectData projectState) throws IOException {
+  public void replace(ProjectData projectState) {
     try {
       replace(idTerm(projectState), toDocument(projectState)).get();
     } catch (ExecutionException | InterruptedException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void delete(Project.NameKey nameKey) throws IOException {
+  public void delete(Project.NameKey nameKey) {
     try {
       delete(idTerm(nameKey)).get();
     } catch (ExecutionException | InterruptedException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/IndexUtils.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/IndexUtils.java
index e7bdfea91a..94c07ba5e7 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/IndexUtils.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/IndexUtils.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import com.google.common.base.Function;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableMap;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
 import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
+import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.QueryOptions;
 import com.google.gerrit.index.project.ProjectField;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.CurrentUser;
@@ -49,23 +50,22 @@ public final class IndexUtils {
         }
       };
 
-  public static void setReady(SitePaths sitePaths, String name, int version, boolean ready)
-      throws IOException {
+  public static void setReady(SitePaths sitePaths, String name, int version, boolean ready) {
     try {
       GerritIndexStatus cfg = new GerritIndexStatus(sitePaths);
       cfg.setReady(name, version, ready);
       cfg.save();
-    } catch (ConfigInvalidException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+    } catch (ConfigInvalidException | IOException e) {
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
   }
 
-  public static boolean getReady(SitePaths sitePaths, String name, int version) throws IOException {
+  public static boolean getReady(SitePaths sitePaths, String name, int version) {
     try {
       GerritIndexStatus cfg = new GerritIndexStatus(sitePaths);
       return cfg.getReady(name, version);
-    } catch (ConfigInvalidException e) {
-      throw new IOException(e);
+    } catch (ConfigInvalidException | IOException e) {
+      throw new StorageException(e);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/OnlineReindexer.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/OnlineReindexer.java
index 8a1776ddcc..f70d1e130c 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/OnlineReindexer.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/OnlineReindexer.java
@@ -120,11 +120,7 @@ public class OnlineReindexer<K, V, I extends Index<K, V>> {
   public void activateIndex() {
     indexes.setSearchIndex(index);
     logger.atInfo().log("Using %s schema version %s", name, version(index));
-    try {
-      index.markReady(true);
-    } catch (IOException e) {
-      logger.atWarning().log("Error activating new %s schema version %s", name, version(index));
-    }
+    index.markReady(true);
 
     List<I> toRemove = Lists.newArrayListWithExpectedSize(1);
     for (I i : indexes.getWriteIndexes()) {
@@ -133,12 +129,8 @@ public class OnlineReindexer<K, V, I extends Index<K, V>> {
       }
     }
     for (I i : toRemove) {
-      try {
-        i.markReady(false);
-        indexes.removeWriteIndex(version(i));
-      } catch (IOException e) {
-        logger.atWarning().log("Error deactivating old %s schema version %s", name, version(i));
-      }
+      i.markReady(false);
+      indexes.removeWriteIndex(version(i));
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/DummyChangeIndex.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/DummyChangeIndex.java
index f6cee6dac4..9be93f77bb 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/DummyChangeIndex.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/DummyChangeIndex.java
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import com.google.gerrit.index.query.Predicate;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Change;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.query.change.ChangeData;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.query.change.ChangeDataSource;
-import java.io.IOException;
 
 public class DummyChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
   @Override
@@ -32,13 +31,13 @@ public class DummyChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
   public void close() {}
 
   @Override
-  public void replace(ChangeData cd) throws IOException {}
+  public void replace(ChangeData cd) {}
 
   @Override
-  public void delete(Change.Id id) throws IOException {}
+  public void delete(Change.Id id) {}
 
   @Override
-  public void deleteAll() throws IOException {}
+  public void deleteAll() {}
 
   @Override
   public ChangeDataSource getSource(Predicate<ChangeData> p, QueryOptions opts) {
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ public class DummyChangeIndex implements ChangeIndex {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void markReady(boolean ready) throws IOException {}
+  public void markReady(boolean ready) {}
 
   public int getMaxLimit() {
     return Integer.MAX_VALUE;