Outlook Search re-index
Probem:
Outlook search is not working
Solution:
Outlook Marked for Indexing?
When dealing with Microsoft Outlook Search not working, it is important to just keep calm and follow the steps provided here. If your search shows no results, one thing that could be happening is that your Outlook data file is not actually checked off for indexing. It is important to have the Outlook Search Index working correctly, as it can send the entire email client into a spiral of malfunction.It is quite easy in Outlook 2016 to check if your mailbox is being indexed. To check what you’re indexing in Outlook 2016 just follow this specific path:
Navigate to the search options by clicking File>Options> Search
Under Indexing Options, click Indexing Options> Modify
This is where you can make sure that Outlook has been selected for indexing. In previous versions of Outlook, you could specify which mailbox or .pst/.ost files within Outlook to index, but in Outlook 2016 you either index Outlook completely or you do not index it at all.
When you check if it is marked for indexing, you should also try disabling and then re-enabling Outlook. To do so, follow these steps:
- Deselect Outlook from Indexing
- Close Outlook
- Wait 5 minutes, check in the task manager that Outlook.exe is not in the processes tab
- Now open OL again and go back and select Outlook for indexing
Possible Pst file corruption?
There could be a corrupted pst-file that’s causing the search problems with the Outlook Search Index. To check the file and repair it in Outlook 2016 just search for scanpst.exe file. You can search for this file on your computer by typing in Scanpst.exe into the File Explorer(make sure it is not just searching the folder you are currently in, but choose “This PC” on the left hand side of File Explorer.) If you run this, it will repair any corrupted pst or ost file.
Learn more about how to run scanpst.exe here.
Rebuild the Index
If nothing else works, you may need to rebuild your index. This is easy to do, it just may take some time. All you need to do is follow these steps to rebuild your Outlook 2016 search index:
- Click on File, then Options. Click Search on the left hand side
- Now click on the button that says Indexing Options
- Click the button that says Advanced
- Within the tab that says “Index Settings” click on the button that says “Rebuild”
Note: When the index is being rebuilt, your search will not work. You should wait until the index is done rebuilding. The time it will take for the index to be rebuilt depends on the system you are using, the amount of files that need to be indexed, and file size.
When your index has finished rebuilding, you can go ahead and restart your Outlook searches. This should have fixed your Outlook 2016 search problems.