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Outlook's Search function has stopped working.

You may find that Outlook's Search function no longer seems to work, for example the message 'No matches found' is shown, even when you try a search for something you know for certain is present.

This may be a symptom of Outlook's search index having become corrupted on your computer, and it may be necessary to rebuild it.  There may however be a simpler solution of restarting the Windows Search facility.  Instructions for both possible solutions are given below.

Restarting Windows Search

Try this method first.

1. Switch off Outlook's Cached Exchange Mode by following the instructions in FAQ 2348.
2. Click the Windows Start button, then choose Control Panel, then select Programs, then select Turn Windows Features on or off:
   
    
   
    
   At this point the screen may go blank for a moment and then you are asked to enter your username and password.  If these are not accepted, cancel the procedure,  because administrator rights are needed to make the required changes. You can request help with this from the IT Services Staff Desktop Support team (use the 'Office equipment' icon in the ITS online forms).
   
   Otherwise, continue as follows:
   
   
3. De-select Windows Search in the list of features:
   
   
   
   
4. Click OK.
5. Close Windows down and restart your computer.
6. Now switch on Outlook's Cached Exchange Mode if required (see FAQ 2348).
7. Repeat steps 2 and 3, but this time in step 3 re-select the Windows Search feature that you had earlier de-selected.
8. Click OK.
9. Restart your computer once more.

This may solve your Outlook Search problems, but if not, try the method below.

Rebuilding the Outlook Search Index

Only use this method if the method above doesn't work.

The instructions are based on Outlook 2013.

NOTE: you will need administrator access to your computer (which enables you to install software and make other configuration changes), so you may find that the procedure cannot be used by you on your staff desktop PC, and it may only work for a privately-owned PC.  You can request help with your staff PC from the IT Services Staff Desktop Support team (use the 'Office equipment' icon in the ITS online forms).

1. In Outlook, click on the File menu tab, then click Options, then click Search:
   
   
   
   
2. Click the Indexing Options... button:
   
   
   
   
3. Click on the Advanced button:
   
   
4. At this point the screen may go blank for a moment and then you are asked to enter your username and password.  If these are not accepted, close the options window and cancel the procedure, and seek help from IT Services (this is because administrator rights are needed to make the required changes).
   
   Otherwise, continue as follows:
   
   
5. Click the Rebuild button:
   
   
6. Outlook will now start to rebuild its search index. This can take a long time to complete but it will take place in the background, and you can continue to use Outlook (except for searching).