Tricks to Resolve Instant Search Does Not Display Any Results in Outlook

CAUSES: Before heading on to the solutions, let us discuss on what causes this instant search does not display any results issue in Outlook. The main reason behind it is that whenever the Outlook email client is upgraded to another version, the indexing is not updated along with it or when the Outlook files are rebuilt but indexing is not updated along with it. Since the indexing is not updated, Outlook application could not locate the search string within the Outlook mailbox. Another important reason could be corruption in the Outlook database files, generally PST file. Exact reason could not be ensured and to fix the issue, some manual tricks and trials needs to be followed to identify and rectify the real issue.

Fix instant search does not display any results Issue

Some basic actions which you might have already tried of and if not, then you can perform like restarting the Outlook application, closing the Outlook application with the Task Manager, making relevant search with narrow details, rebooting the system, disabling Anti-virus, Freeware, third-party programs, Add-ins, uninstalling the recent updates, downgrading the Outlook version, repairing or reinstalling Microsoft Office program, etc. If you have got no success by performing these actions, then we have some more effective native solutions for you.

Check For Outlook Search Index Marking

You can know whether the Outlook Search Index is working adequately by adopting the given steps.

1. Open your Outlook application and then go to File>>Options. Move to Search Section, click on Indexing Options and click on Modify.
2. A window named Indexed Locations will be displayed. Select the checkbox with Microsoft Outlook name along with other required locations and click on OK.
3. This will ensure that indexing for the Outlook is complete.

Note: The above steps apply for the latest Outlook versions (Outlook 2013 and later versions). For Outlook 2010, navigate to File>Options>Search>Indexing options>Modify. Then expand the Microsoft Outlook option. Next, from the list, confirm that the PST file is selected and if it is not there, recreate the Outlook profile.

Also, latest versions like Outlook 2013 and above allows indexing complete Outlook only and not specific files or mailboxes.

If this method does not help, then move on to another solution to resolve the search issue.

Disable and Enable Windows Search option

Doing disabling of Windows Search option and then enabling it again could resolve the issue if there is faulty or damaged Windows Search. Carry out the uninstalling and reinstalling process using the following steps:

1. Press Windows+R to open the Run dialog box. Here, type services.msc and click on OK.
2. The Services window will get open. Look out for the Windows Search option and double click on it.
3. The window named Windows Search Properties (Local computer) will be displayed. Go to the Startup type section and select Disabled from the drop-down. Under Service status section, click on Stop to stop the services and click on OK.
4. After that restart your system.
5. Next, you need to restart the Windows Search services again. Perform the steps 1 to 3. In the 3 step, select Enable under Startup type and Start under Service status.
6. Now check whether the instant search option working in Outlook or not.

Rebuild Search Index

This is a time-taking process, so you need to have some patience to perform this solution and it can also slow-down the performance of your system. If you are interested, perform the given steps.

1. Before performing this, ensure that the Outlook application is closed. Open Control Panel in your system and click on Indexing Options.
2. Indexing Options window will get open. Select Microsoft Outlook option and click on Modify.
   
3. Next, select the locations including Microsoft Outlook for indexing purpose and click on OK.
   
4. Next, click on the Advanced tab.
   
5. Within Advanced Options window, click on Rebuild option and then finally click on OK.
   
6. Wait for the Index rebuilding process to get completed.
7. Now, start the Outlook application and check for the search email issue is rectified.

Note: Resetting Outlook index is also an option which recreate actual index files along with reset of customized indexing settings. For this, go to the Control Panel on your system, click on Troubleshooting option. Click on View all from the left panel, then click on Search and Indexing option followed by Advanced option. Next click the Run as administrator link and then click Next to further follow provide instructions to complete the resetting process.

Modify Windows Registry

The method is suitable for the latest Outlook versions where users can fix instant search does not display any results issue by editing the Windows Registry values in the Windows Registry Editor.

1. Run the Windows Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Windows run box (press Windows button and R key together) and click OK.
2. Navigate to this location.
   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search
3. Now, follow this sequence: right-click on Windows Search option>select New>select Dword (32-bit) value.
4. Provide Dword value name as ‘PreventIndexingOutlook’.
5. Double-click on PreventIndexingOutlook option and provide its value as “0”.
6. Exit the Registry Editor, reboot the system and now start using the Search option in Outlook.

Repair Corrupt Outlook Files

As we have mentioned, corruption in PST files could be the reason for issue and you can check whether it is hampering the search function indirectly by performing the repair process on PST files using inbuilt repair tool, Inbox Repair Tool and if it fails to resolve the error due to limitations like large file size or high corruption level, then you can try a third-party tool for the repair. Once the repair is completed, check the Outlook indexing status by navigating to Tools>Instant Search>Indexing Status.

Note: To fix instant search does not display any results in Outlook, users can move to repair or re-install the Microsoft Outlook program using the Control Panel “Programs and features” option.

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Conclusion

Failure of working of Outlook instant search does not display any results like PST corruption or upgrade to other version, indexing not updated, etc. If the issue is related to indexing, then there are relevant manual solutions as described above but for serious corruption issues, a flawless and robust third-party tool is suggested for all Outlook users.