Outlook is one of the most popular email clients in the world, but it’s not perfect. One of the most frustrating issues that users run into is when Outlook search stops working. This can be a serious problem, especially if you rely on Outlook to manage your email, contacts, and calendar.

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to fix Outlook search when it’s not working. In this article, we’ll walk you through the troubleshooting process.

Step 1: Check Your Indexing Settings

The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure that Outlook is set up to index your email. Without indexing, search won’t work properly. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Open Outlook and click on File > Options.

2. In the left-hand menu, select Search.

3. Click on “Indexing Options.”

4. Check to see if Microsoft Outlook is listed in the Indexing Options window. If it isn’t, click on the “Modify” button and check the box next to Outlook.

5. If Outlook is already listed, click on the “Advanced” button and make sure that the “Index this folder and all subfolders” option is checked for each of your email accounts.

6. Once you’ve made changes, click on “OK” and restart Outlook.

Step 2: Rebuild the Index

If indexing isn’t the issue, the next step is to try rebuilding the index. This can take a while, but it’s often the best way to fix search issues in Outlook. Here’s how:

1. Open Outlook and click on File > Options.

2. In the left-hand menu, select Search.

3. Click on “Indexing Options.”

4. Click on the “Advanced” button.

5. In the “Advanced Options” window, select the “Rebuild” button.

6. Wait for the indexing to complete. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the size of your mailbox.

7. Once the indexing is complete, restart Outlook and see if search is working.

Step 3: Check Your PST File

If rebuilding the index doesn’t fix the problem, the issue may be with your PST file. Here’s how to check:

1. Close Outlook.

2. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

3. Type “scanpst.exe” and click on “OK.”

4. In the “Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool” window, click on “Browse” and select your PST file. The default location for the PST file is C:\Users\your username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook.

5. Click on “Start” to begin the scan.

6. Once the scan is complete, click on “Repair” if the tool finds any issues with your PST file.

7. Restart Outlook and see if search is working.

Step 4: Close and Reopen Outlook

If none of the above steps work, the final step is to try closing and reopening Outlook. This can often fix search issues that are caused by temporary glitches. Here’s how:

1. Close Outlook.

2. Wait a few minutes.

3. Reopen Outlook and try searching again.

Conclusion

Fixing Outlook search when it’s not working can be a frustrating process, but by following these steps, you should be able to get the issue resolved. If you’re still having problems, it may be worth reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance. In the meantime, remember to back up your PST file regularly to avoid data loss in the event of a problem.