How do I Fix Outlook Search not Working?

Fix Outlook Search not Working:

When you are searching for a specific item using the Outlook app, you may see an error message that says "Outlook couldn't complete your search" or "Outlook won't open". This is basically an Outlook search not working error".

The search function of the Outlook email client is very useful as it helps users in searching for specific information. In case the search function of Outlook is not working properly, then searching for the desired items can become really tiring and you may have t scroll through hundreds of messages to find one particular message. 

What Leads to Outlook Search not Working Problem?

Outlook search not working problem may occur because of a variety of reasons. It can appear because of an indexing error or due to an outdated version of Outlook. The corruption of an Outlook data file can also lead to this problem. You may also see this problem because of a faulty app. 

How to Resolve the Outlook Search not Working Problem?

Below, we have stated some of the solutions that can help you fix the Outlook search not working problem. 

Solution 1: Update MS Office

Outdated Outlook can lead to several glitches. You can easily fix these glitches by updating Microsoft office.

Below are the steps that you need to perform in order to update your Outlook. 

Step 1: First of all, launch Outlook. 

Step 2: Go to File and then choose Office Account. 

Step 3: After that, navigate to Update Options below product information enable updates. 

Step 4: Now, choose the option of "Update Now". 

Solution 2: Fix the Indexing Problem

You may see an error message on the screen that says "No matches found" or "Search results may be incomplete" while searching on Outlook. You may also see that the inbox is displaying all emails.

In such a case, you are required to fix the indexing functions. This can easily be done by rebuilding Outlook Index and updating features and Index locations. You can rebuild the Outlook index by following the steps mentioned below. 

Step 1: First of all, open the Control Panel. 

Step 2: Then, go to the option of "Programs and Features". 

Step 3: Go to Microsoft Office Enterprise and right-click on it. 

Step 4: Select Change. 

Step 5: Click on Repair or Quick Repair. 

Now, the Repair process will begin and when you are done, restart your computer and see if the error is resolved. 

Solution 3: Use Outlook Index Repair menu option

Below are the steps that you need to follow in order to use the outlook index repair menu option. 

Step 1: Launch File and then select Options. 

Step 2: After that, go to Search and then select Indexing Options. 

Step 3: Choose Advanced. 

Step 4: After that, select the Rebuild option and then select OK. 

Solution 4: Update Microsoft Office

There are a lot of incompatibilities that you can overcome by updating Microsoft office. Plus, the additional features in the updated version can help you fix these errors.

To update the MS office, below are the steps that you need to follow. 

Step 1: Launch Outlook. 

Step 2: After that, go to File and then select Office Account. 

Step 3: Below the Product Information heading, go to the drop-down menu of Update Options. 

Step 4: Select Update Now. 

Solution 5: Check Outlook Indexing Group Policy

There are times when a few conditions of group policy can impact the functioning of a program.

To resolve such issues, below are the steps that you need to follow. 

Step 1: Go to the Search box and then enter gpedit to choose the best match. 

Step 2: Select User Configuration. 

Step 3: Choose the administration template and then choose Search. 

Step 4: If you wish to make any alterations in MS Outlook. Then, select Default Excluded paths, and prevent indexing a few paths. In case the policy has been set to not configured, then that means Group Policy is not the cause of your problem.