SharePoint Online Search Function - Return non matching documents while searching

Question

Hi All, 

When searching for documents in SharePoint Online Library, SharePoint pulling the all files which do not have the searched word anywhere in the file or in the titles of the file or metadata that are populated.  For example when we search the word "calf" it pulls up the file which even do not have that word mention in any of the files.

Can somebody suggest me something on that?

Answer 1

Hi Vijay,

Thanks for your update.

I have received the another file and tested it on my side, but it will not appear in the search results when I search "calf".

Please try reindexing your document library by the steps in my first post and wait for 24 hours to see if the document appear in the search results when searching "calf". Since it can take up to 24 hours to crawl the changes in your document library.

If the file appear in the search result for the keyword " calf" after you re-index document library 24 hours later, could you help provide the information below for further troubleshooting?

1.Please capture a screenshot of the search result page when you search "calf" within the document library with modern and classic experience.

2.Is the document library same one as the above?

3.Did the document contain "calf" or " calves" previously and you delete them?

Regards,

Joanne

Answer 2

I did send you PM with the required information.

Answer 3

Hi Vijay,

Thanks for the updated information.

We can't reproduce the same issue on our side. If convenient, could you help provide the two files that don't contain "calf" but appear in the search results? You can share the file via private message.

Besides, could you try searching different keywords to see the result? We just want to confirm if it is only related to the keyword "calf".

In addition, we need to collect the following things to further investigate the issue:

1. I notice you mentioned it exhibits same behavior in a new document library, is the document library on the same site collection as the previous one? If yes, please try performing same steps on a different site collection to see the result.
2. If other people in your organization search the same keywords within the same document library, does it exhibit same behavior?

Regards,

Joanne

Answer 4

Thank You Joanne for your replay

Let me give you step by step answer for your questions:

Before we start just let you know that I Reindex Document library, but did not see any difference

1. I replicated the same behavior with modern experience and classic experience (Attaching Screenshot below)

With Modern Experience

As you can see above word calf is not included in any of the highlighted file it still giving those files in results.

Classic Experience 

1.Does it exhibits same behavior if you search different keywords?

   Not sure, But I guess not

2.Please try using a different browser or start your browser in private mode to see if it return non-matching documents when searching.

   Tried the same on IE and Chrome and see the same behaviour 

3.Please try using a different Office 365 account to navigate to this document library and search something to see the outcome.

   Tried the same with multiple accounts see the same behaviour 

4.To narrow down the issue, please try searching in a different document library within the same site and searching in a document library on different site collections and let us know the results.

   For modern Experience I created a different document library and try to search the same there, and I can confirm it is also happening there (Screenshot attached).

5.Does this happen previously? If not, did you change any settings to the document library, SharePoint sites or your tenant before this happened?

We are not sure about previously, but I can confirm it was not happening previously and no setting or configuration is changed by us.

I guess this word "calf" is have some shot of issue but not sure what.

Hope this help.

Vijay

Answer 5

Hi Vijay,

Are you searching content in the document library with modern experience or classic experience?

a.You are using the Find a file feature in the document library with classic experience.

b.You are searching content via the Search box in the document library with modern experience.

Meanwhile, you can try searching content in the document with different experience to see if there is any difference.

Also, please try navigating to Library Settings>Advanced Settings and clicking on Reindex Document library, then wait for 24 hours to see if it exhibits same behavior when you search contents.

If the issue persists, we want to confirm some information for troubleshooting:

1.Does it exhibits same behavior if you search different keywords?

2.Please try using a different browser or start your browser in private mode to see if it return non-matching documents when searching.

3.Please try using a different Office 365 account to navigate to this document library and search something to see the outcome.

4.To narrow down the issue, please try searching in a different document library within the same site and searching in a document library on different site collections and let us know the results.

5.Does this happen previously? If not, did you change any settings to the document library, SharePoint sites or your tenant before this happened?

Regards,

Joanne