Outlook - Rebuild the search index of your mailbox

Owned by Davis, Rem
Last updated: Sep 24, 2021 by Lyons, Andrew H
1 min read

Issue

These steps can be used if you are trying to search in Outlook for contacts or messages, but no results or incomplete results appear. The steps below will remove and rebuild the search index that each operating system and Outlook use to find content.

Resolution

Outlook for Windows

  1. In Outlook click on the File tab

  2. Then click on Options, then Search

  3. Next click on Indexing Options

  4. You should now see what locations are being indexed, click on the Advanced button

  5. Once the Advanced box has opened you will see in the Troubleshooting section you have the option to Rebuild, click this button

  6. Rebuilding will take some time so make sure you leave your computer on for a while. You can use the computer while the search index builds.

Outlook for Mac

  1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences

  2. Click Spotlight

  3. Go to the Privacy tab

  4. Click the plus sign (+) to add a folder to the list of non-indexed folders

  5. Select your Home folder (usually has your name or username and a house icon) and click Choose

  6. If prompted for confirmation, click OK

  7. After a moment, select the item you just added to the list and click the minus sign (-) to remove it

  8. Close Spotlight preferences

  9. Rebuilding will take some time so make sure you leave your computer on for a while. You can use the computer while the search index builds.

 

Â