Outlook search is not working properly

Hi @Alan Gao

Thank you so much for reaching out. I truly understand how frustrating it can be to face search issues in Outlook, especially after migrating your mailboxes from Exchange Server 2016 to 2019. I’m here to help and have put together a clear, step-by-step guide to get your search functionality back on track. 

1. Restart & Troubleshoot Windows Search 

Sometimes a simple restart can work wonders. Please close Outlook completely and restart your computer, a fresh start often clears temporary glitches. 

After rebooting, run the Windows Search and Indexing troubleshooter: 

• For Windows 11: Select the Start button, then Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Under Most frequent, select Windows Update > Run. 
• For Windows 10: Select the Start button, select Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. Find and click Search and Indexing, and click Run the troubleshooter. 

If you’re using an older version of Windows, please check your OS version and follow the corresponding steps for troubleshooting. 

2. Verify Outlook's Indexing Status 

• Open Outlook and click into the Search box. 
• In the Search menu that appears, select Search Tools > Indexing Status. 

• When the Indexing Status dialog appears, you should see the following: 

• In the dialog box, note the number of items remaining to be indexed. If Outlook is still indexing, allow 5–10 minutes and check again. If the number doesn’t decrease over time, please proceed to the next step. 

3. Rebuild the Outlook Search Index (if necessary) 

If the issue persists, rebuilding the search index may help. You can follow the detailed instructions on how to rebuild the search index in the Microsoft support article linked below. The article will walk you through the exact steps: Fix search issues by rebuilding your Instant Search catalog 

This process might take some time depending on your mailbox size, so please allow it to finish before testing your search again. 

4. Repair Your Office Installation (if the issue persists) 

If the problem continues, you can try repairing your Office installation: 

• Close Outlook and go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. 
• Find Microsoft Office in the list, right-click it, and choose Change or Repair. 
• Start with Quick Repair. If that doesn’t work, try Online Repair which is more comprehensive but may take longer. 

If none of these steps resolve the issue, consider creating a new Outlook profile. A corrupted profile can sometimes cause search problems. Detailed steps for creating a new profile are available here: Create a new Outlook profile - Microsoft Support 

For more detailed troubleshooting, you can refer to this comprehensive article about Outlook search issues, which includes all of the steps above: Troubleshooting Outlook Search Issues - Microsoft Support 

I hope these steps help restore your Outlook search functionality. Please know that I’m truly here to help, if you run into any more issues or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

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