Unable to search mail items – Windows

June 15, 2017 | by iaur | posted as Failure, Outlook 365

A. Remove Outlook from Index:

1.  Open Outlook , go to File tab, and then click Options.

Outlook Options windows will appear.

1.  Go to Search settings
2. From the Sources group, click Indexing Options.
3.  On the Indexing Options, click Modify.

Indexed Locations window will appear.

1. Uncheck ‘Microsoft Outlook’ on the selected locations.
2. Click Close to dismiss dialog box.
3. Exit Outlook.

B. Check OST and PST permissions:

1. Find all .0ST and .PST files that you’re using on your computer.

In Windows 8/8.1/10, OST files are usually hidden and stored in these locations:

%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

or find them at

%userprofile%\Documents\Outlook Files

1. For each file, you are using, right click on the file(s) and select Properties.
2. Click on the Advanced button on the General tab.
3. Ensure that the Allow this file to have contents indexed in addition to file properties

is checked

C. Add Outlook 2016 to Index and Rebuild index

1. Start Outlook, go to the Indexing Options, and add ‘Microsoft Outlook’ back to the

list.

1. Click Modify.
2. Indexed Locations window will appear.
3. Check Microsoft Outlook and hit OK.
4. Click Advanced, on the Index Settings.
5. Under Troubleshooting group, click Rebuild.
6. Check if Outlook is done with rebuilding

a. Start Outlook, go to the Indexing Options, and add ‘Microsoft Outlook’ back to the
b. list.
c. Click Modify.
d. Indexed Locations window will appear.
Check Microsoft Outlook and hit OK

MSFT Docs:

https://support.office.com/en-ie/article/troubleshooting-outlook-search-issues-2556b11f-f4d8-46be-b0a7-de33a3f4f066

Next Steps

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/no-search-results-for-pop-imap-or-exchange-accounts-51c9d2c7-a3db-4358-afdf-50d3a9e57039

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_outlook-mso_other/unable-to-search-in-outlook/b74de654-ad1e-4a5e-b830-a03a6fc8bfde

D. Restart Windows Services for Search.

1. Search for “Services”(desktop app)> run as an administrator
2. Find a “Windows Search” service and stop it. Press right button –> Properties –> Startup type –> Disabled.
3. Now try searching in Outlook using Normal mode.
4. Find a “Windows Search” service and start it. Press right button –> Properties –> Startup type –> Automatic.
5. Reproduce again the error