The search in Outlook gives the top 3 results. How can I make this stop and customize?

Dear Gregory Kowalsky,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Community.

Based on my tests, this feature is product by design. l didn't find one method to customize it permanently. We have an option disable "Top results" , for details please check below steps:

Open Outlook > File > options > search > uncheck - Show most relevant search results on top.

After searching and consulting, l would like to share below information for your reference.

If you are using Outlook web app, we can delete recent search history and even disable top 3 suggested searches. Sign into Outlook with your Work or school account.

• At the top of the page, select Settings> View all Outlook settings.

1. Select General > Privacy and data.
2. To delete your search history, select Delete history.
3. Select General>Search>Search results
4. Uncheck Show top three most relevant results.

If you are using Outlook desktop app, you can use registry key to delete the Outlook desktop app search history, follow these steps:

• Go to Windows 10 Search box, type regeditand press ENTER. This will start the registry editor.

1. In the User Account Control popup window, select Yesto allow registry editor make changes to your computer.
2. Go to the following location in the registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Profiles*Outlook*\0a0d020000000000c000000000000046.
3. In the right pane look for a registry value 101f0445, which you need to delete. Select Yesto delete the registry value.
4. Restart Microsoft Outlook to implement the change you’ve made to the registry.
5. Verify that the search history has been deleted. Click in the Outlook search box. Clicking the search box brings up a new Search tab on the ribbon. Click Recent Searches on the Search tab to verify that the search history has been cleared.

At same time, l would like to better assist you and provide a feasible solution for you, so, for further support, it is suggested to post your concern in another dedicated team. Experts will provide further information and support. So, kindly request you to click below link to post your concern and get in touch with Outlook management team:

Outlook Management - Microsoft Q&A

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but your patience and cooperation will be greatly appreciated. Stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Tammy | Microsoft Community Moderator.

Agree! MICROSOFT CAN WE GET AN UPDATE ON THIS MATTER? It completely screws up my results and I can't sort chronologically because it always pulls out the "top results" (according to the algorithm) which aren't even correct "top results" (according to me) and I can't figure out the chronological chain of emails without sorting each email thread on a matter individually and making note of the time/date sent. It is maddening. Please give an option to get rid of this useless, harmful and confusing feature.

T.

This is exactly the same question I have. How has this taken like 5 months to get to the point of finding out that the checkbox that should apparently exist, *doesn't exist*???

Just give us a checkbox that says "Restore the good Outlook style" and it just applies everything to take it back to being like Outlook 2003 ffs

Unfortunately, this did not work for me.
Under General > Search > Search results, there is no option to uncheck 'Show top three most relevant results'... Why is this? I would still like to turn this feature off, because to me it is simply useless.
Thank you.
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