mail search is only returning older emails (around two weeks old) and not showing recent ones

I have the same search problem using Outlook.com mail, even in a private Edge browser window. The oldest search items now appear. There is no option to sort newest first. I contact Microsoft support and was told this is the new behavior to better return search results. I find search no longer unusable in the Outlook.com mail web version.

Hi @Taranjeet Singh

Thank you for posting your question in Microsoft Q&A. 

As your description, we understand you are experiencing issues with the mail search function in Outlook, and it doesn't seem to be working as your expectation, possibly missing recent data. This is a common and frustrating issue. When a mail search only shows older emails, it's typically indexing issue, search settings, or data synchronization. 

To troubleshoot it, you could try to follow these steps: 

1.Check Your Search Filters and Scope:  

This is the simplest approach to identify the issue: 

• Date Filter: Check if a filter is set to show emails "older than" a certain date or within a specific date range. This might exclude recent emails from search results. 
• Search Scope: Ensure the search is set to "All Mailboxes" or "All Mail" instead of just "Current Folder". Recent emails may be located in other folders, such as Focused Inbox or Archive. 
• Sort Order: Verify that your search results are sorted by Date (Newest First). Sorting by sender, size, or relevance could push newer emails to the bottom of the list. 

2.Rebuild the Search Index:

This approach helps restart the indexing process, which often resolves issues with missing recent emails in Outlook.

• Close Outlook and open Control Panel. 

Do one of the following: 

• Choose Indexing Options. 
• In the Search box, type Indexing, and then choose Indexing Options. 
• In the Indexed Locations dialog box, under Change selected locations, select the check box for the location you want to modify, and then click OK. 
• In the Advanced Options dialog box, on the Index Settings tab, under Troubleshooting, click Rebuild. 

You can refer more via: Fix search issues by rebuilding your Instant Search catalog - Microsoft Support  

3. Repair Your Outlook Application (for deeper corruption issues): 

Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. 

Locate Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365, right-click it, and select Change. 

Choose Quick Repair for a fast fix, or Online Repair for a more thorough solution. 

After the repair completes, restart your PC and Outlook. 

To better assist you, could you please provide the following details: 

• Does this issue also occur when using Outlook Web App? 
• What is your current Outlook version? 
• What type of account are you using in Outlook (business/personal account)? 
• Did this issue start after any recent changes, such as an app update or device change? 

Please understand that our initial reply may not always immediately resolve the issue. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution. 

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