Outlook search is an essential tool for many people who use the popular email client. But sometimes, things can go wrong, and Outlook search may stop working correctly. Fortunately, there are several ways to fix this issue.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to fix Outlook search when it’s not working:

1. Check your Outlook settings

The first thing to do if you’re having trouble with the Outlook search function is to check your settings. Make sure that you have set up your search options to include all of the folders that you want to search.

To check your Outlook settings, follow these steps:

– In Outlook, click on the File menu at the top left corner of the window.

– Click on Options.

– In the left-hand menu, click on Search.

– Make sure that all the folders you want to include in the search are selected under “Results should be.” Also, make sure that “All folders” is selected under “When searching in Outlook.”

2. Rebuild your Outlook index

If your Outlook search is still not working correctly, you may need to rebuild your Outlook index. The index is what Outlook uses to search for email messages and other items. Rebuilding the index may take some time, but it can fix many problems with Outlook search.

To rebuild your Outlook index, follow these steps:

– In Outlook, click on the File menu at the top left corner of the window.

– Click on Options.

– In the left-hand menu, click on Search.

– Click on the Indexing Options button.

– Click on the Advanced button.

– Click on the Rebuild button.

3. Clear your Outlook cache

If rebuilding your Outlook index doesn’t fix the problem, you may need to clear your Outlook cache. An overloaded cache can slow down Outlook and cause problems with the search function.

To clear your Outlook cache, follow these steps:

– In Outlook, click on the File menu at the top left corner of the window.

– Click on Options.

– In the left-hand menu, click on Advanced.

– Scroll down to the “Outlook start and exit” section.

– Click on the Empty Auto-Complete List button.

– Close and reopen Outlook.

4. Repair your Outlook installation

If none of the above steps fixes the problem, you may need to repair your Outlook installation. This will fix any corrupted files or settings that are causing the search function to malfunction.

To repair your Outlook installation, follow these steps:

– In Windows, click on the Start button, and then click on Control Panel.

– Click on Programs and Features.

– Find Microsoft Office in the list of programs and click on it.

– Click on the Change button.

– Select the Repair option, and then click on Continue.

– Follow the prompts to complete the repair process.