diff --git a/docs/reference/indices/clone-index.asciidoc b/docs/reference/indices/clone-index.asciidoc
index dfcf0f4da82..bdf4471a5b1 100644
--- a/docs/reference/indices/clone-index.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/indices/clone-index.asciidoc
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ PUT /my_source_index/_settings
 --------------------------------------------------
 // TEST[s/^/PUT my_source_index\n/]
 
+The current write index on a data stream cannot be cloned. In order to clone
+the current write index, the data stream must first be
+<<rollover-data-stream-ex,rolled over>> so that a new write index is created
+and then the previous write index can be cloned.
 
 [[clone-index-api-desc]]
 ==== {api-description-title}
diff --git a/docs/reference/indices/shrink-index.asciidoc b/docs/reference/indices/shrink-index.asciidoc
index 58850aae0a8..de6bac804b2 100644
--- a/docs/reference/indices/shrink-index.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/indices/shrink-index.asciidoc
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ of shards in the index is a prime number it can only be shrunk into a single
 primary shard. Before shrinking, a (primary or replica) copy of every shard
 in the index must be present on the same node.
 
+The current write index on a data stream cannot be shrunk. In order to shrink
+the current write index, the data stream must first be
+<<rollover-data-stream-ex,rolled over>> so that a new write index is created
+and then the previous write index can be shrunk.
+
 [[how-shrink-works]]
 ===== How shrinking works
 
@@ -79,8 +84,8 @@ A shrink operation:
 
 . Hard-links segments from the source index into the target index. (If
   the file system doesn't support hard-linking, then all segments are copied
-  into the new index, which is a much more time consuming process. Also if using 
-  multiple data paths, shards on different data paths require a full copy of 
+  into the new index, which is a much more time consuming process. Also if using
+  multiple data paths, shards on different data paths require a full copy of
   segment files if they are not on the same disk since hardlinks don’t work across
   disks)
 
diff --git a/docs/reference/indices/split-index.asciidoc b/docs/reference/indices/split-index.asciidoc
index dc23f415d2a..1d8d8ef6e73 100644
--- a/docs/reference/indices/split-index.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/indices/split-index.asciidoc
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ PUT /my_source_index/_settings
 <1> Prevents write operations to this index while still allowing metadata
     changes like deleting the index.
 
+The current write index on a data stream cannot be split. In order to split
+the current write index, the data stream must first be
+<<rollover-data-stream-ex,rolled over>> so that a new write index is created
+and then the previous write index can be split.
 
 [[split-index-api-desc]]
 ==== {api-description-title}