9 Easy Ways to Fix Outlook Search Not Working
Your Outlook search not working can be highly frustrating. Especially when you can’t locate important emails. Although Outlook’s search feature is robust and allows you to set specific criteria, it doesn’t always function as expected. Here are the best solutions we’ve found to resolve Outlook search issues on both Windows and macOS.
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A Quick Summary of Our Troubleshooting Solutions
Knowing the reasons behind Outlook search not working, is typically the first step in figuring out what to do. However, if you are in a hurry, these common solutions might help, even if you do not quite know what the problem is yet:
- Repair Outlook
- Check the indexing settings
- Update Outlook
- Repair some data files
Tip: Before getting started with these tips, close and reopen Outlook. Whether you’re on a Mac or Windows computer, this is the easiest, no-fuss solution to fix a myriad of Outlook search issues. Sometimes, things like a search function quits working for no apparent reason, and a simple cycling of the app puts everything back the way it’s supposed to be. Give it a try!
Methods to Try When Outlook Search is Not Working
1. Repair Microsoft 365
It might seem a little unconventional to start by repairing another program. However, like any other app, Microsoft 365 errors can keep Outlook search from working like it’s supposed to. If you find that Outlook search is not working, try repairing Microsoft 365. It won’t reset the apps and none of your files will be deleted, but it can reverse issues with search.
1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Go to Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Look for and select Microsoft 365.
4. Click the Change button.
5. Select Quick Repair > Repair. The Microsoft 365 installer will attempt to fix the search issue in Outlook.
6. Restart your computer to see if the Outlook search function works.
2. Allow system indexing
Outlook indexes new messages so that you can easily search through them. But, if you tend to get a lot of messages, Outlook may pause indexing until the system is idle and has access to more resources. The only problem is that a computer normally goes to sleep after a few minutes of inactivity. This prevents Outlook from indexing items, and thus, search in Outlook does not work. To solve this issue, you will need to change the sleep time on the system so that the resources remain available for longer.
1. Open the Control Panel
2. Head to the Hardware and Sound menu > Power Options.
3. Select Change plan settings next to the current power plan.
4. Change the sleep setting to a few hours, or pick Never.
3. Update Microsoft 365
Similarly to the first fix on this list, if the Outlook client is not up-to-date, it may cause the search index to stop working. This, in turn, will prevent Outlook search from working. In addition to installing updates from Windows Update, check for updates to Microsoft 365 and install them:
1. In Outlook, go to File > Office Account.
2. Choose Update Options > Update Now.
3. Let any updates install, and then close and reopen Outlook to test if the search function has returned to normal.
4. Check indexing settings
Indexing is an important step in Outlook search’s functionality. Make sure Outlook is set to index everything. To check and change these settings, do the following:
1. Open Outlook’s File menu and then click Options > Search.
2. Select Indexing Options.
3. Click Modify and then Show all locations.
4. Select them all and click OK.
5. Rebuild search index
Outlook’s search index can break or become corrupted. A simple way to fix it is to rebuild it. This will take some time, but it will solve a myriad of problems with Outlook’s search.
1. Return to the File > Options > Search > Indexing Options screen, as shown above.
2. Select Advanced.
3. From the Index Settings tab, select Rebuild, and then confirm with OK.
If you’re on a Mac, you might need to go here instead: Preferences > Search > Indexing > Rebuild.
If Outlook is missing from the Indexing Options window, select Modify, and then add it.
6. Disable desktop search
Another option is to disable desktop searching. This will empower Outlook to use its built-in searching abilities, instead. Here’s how:
1. Open Registry Editor with the regedit Run command (press Windows key+R to get there).
2. Change the current path at the top of the program to the following, and then press Enter:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
3. With the Windows key selected, right-click it and choose New > Key.
4. Name it Windows Search.
5. Right-click the key you just made and select New > DWORD (32-bit) value.
6. Name it PreventIndexingOutlook.
7. Double-click the new value and enter 1 in the box, then press OK to save.
7. Repair Outlook data files
Outlook comes with a built-in tool for repairing data files. Problems with Outlook search not working could be due to a corrupt data file. To repair the files:
1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the Outlook folder for your version of Outlook.
- Outlook 2016 & newer: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
- Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
- Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
- Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12
3. Open SCANPST.EXE.
4. Select the PST file for your Outlook profile.
5. Click Start to begin scanning.
6. If any issues are found, select Repair to fix them, and then restart Outlook.
8. Check the group policy for Outlook Indexing
If you’re running the Pro edition of Windows 11 or Windows 10, check the Local Group Policy Editor to ensure it’s not blocking indexing.
1. Press Windows key+R and enter gpedit.msc to open Local Group Policy Editor.
2. Using the folders on the left of the program, go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search.
3. On the right, double-click Default excluded paths.
4. Select Not configured > OK.
5. Then, do the same for Prevent indexing certain paths (double-click it and choose Not configured > OK).
9. Reinstall Microsoft 365
Yes, it’s annoying to delete and reinstall software. However, in this case, it could be the fix you are looking for. Just make sure you try all the above solutions first!
1. Find Microsoft 365 in Control Panel as we described above.
2. Right-click its entry and choose Uninstall.
3. Follow the prompts to remove Microsoft 365.
Final Thoughts on Restoring Outlook’s Search Functionality
Emails are challenging to keep track off and no matter how many labels you apply, or special inboxes you create, you will still find yourself using the search feature to find a lost message now and then. If Outlook can find both older messages and newer ones, but you still can’t find the one you’re looking for, the problem may not lie with Outlook’s search. Fortunately, with these quick fixes, you should be able to get back to your missing emails in a jiffy.
Frequently Ashed Questions
How long does Outlook indexing take?
The duration of Outlook indexing depends on several factors, including the state and size of the files, the capabilities of your operating system, how many other programs you have running etc. This means that waiting for Outlook to index may take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. In some cases, it can even take up to 24 hours for the indexing to be completed.
How do I clear the cache in Outlook?
To clear your cache, you will need to ensure that you have saved your work and closed Outlook. Then:
- Press the Windows Key+R
- Type: %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook and press Enter
- Once the folder opens, double-click on RoamCache
- Use Ctrl + A, or select the files one by one to delete them
Why can’t I find an email in Outlook?
If you have tried all our troubleshooting solutions, but a specific email is still evading you, you might want to take a look at the Deleted or Archive folders. A quick wrong click of the mouse or swipe of the finger could have easily moved or deleted your email.
Why is the search button not working in Outlook?
This issue is typically caused by outdated software or indexing issues. Take a look at the solutions we have presented above, they should help you to get Outlook search back up and running.
