Outlook is one of the most common tools to check emails. If you’re experiencing issues with Outlook search or unable to search in Outlook, try these steps.
Unable to Search in Outlook – Possible Solutions
There can be many reasons but you can try these simple steps to the issue. If this does not solve your problem, you can go to Microsoft’s official website for support.
Restart your computer or laptop
First of all, you can check after restarting your computer. If the problem is related to slow speed or any similar issue, it will resolve automatically. Many people keep the system running for long hours especially in case of a laptop. Rebooting can break down all the processes and restart them again.
Check for Updates
Check if there are any updates pending. Ensure Outlook and Windows are up to date, as updates can include bug fixes.
Outlook Search Indexing (Manually)
Start classic Outlook and click in the Search box.
Select Search Tools > Indexing Status from the Search menu.
When the Indexing Status dialog appears, you should see the dialog box with Indexing Status for Outlook search.
If classic Outlook has not finished indexing, note the items remaining to be indexed, wait five minutes, and then check again.
In some cases this may work
Verify Indexing Options:
Go to File > Options > Search.
Make sure “Include results only from” is set to “Current Mailbox”.
Ensure “Improve search speed by limiting the number of results shown” is unchecked.
Rebuild the Search Index:
Go to File > Options > Search > Indexing Options > Advanced > Rebuild.
This process may take some time, so be patient.
Check Windows Search Service
Ensure the Windows Search service is running.
Final Check
Follow these steps to make sure that the indexing options are configured correctly:
Exit classic Outlook.
Open Indexing Options in the Windows control panel.
In the Indexing Options dialog box, select Advanced.
Select the File Types tab.
Scroll down until you find msg in the Extension column and select it.
Make sure that the Index Properties and File Contents option is enabled.
Select OK, and then select Close.
Additional issues causing unable to search in Outlook
Corrupted PST/OST Files: If your Outlook data files (.pst or .ost) are corrupted, it can cause search problems.
Add-ins: Disable or remove any add-ins that might be interfering with search.
Policy Restrictions: If you’re using Outlook in a corporate environment, there might be policy restrictions affecting search.
Work Offline: Ensure you’re not in offline mode, as this can limit search functionality.
Repair Office Installation: If the above steps don’t work, try repairing your Office installation.
Check for Add-Ins: Sometimes, add-ins can interfere with search functionality.
Narrow your search: Try using more specific search terms and advanced search operators.
Use advanced search queries: Use quotation marks to search for an exact phrase or use keywords along with other search operators like “from:”, “to:”, “subject:”, “received:”.
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