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Outlook search not finding messages (macOS Monterey 12.1, MacBook Air, Office 2021)

I migrated from an old (Intel) MacBook Air running Office 2016 to a new (Apple silicon) MacBook Air running Monterey 12.1 with Office 2021.



I migrated files, data and settings using Apple's Migration Assistant.



I have a problem with Outlook 16.56: When I use search or advanced search of my sent messages folder (or any other folder) I get "No results" despite knowing that there are messages that should be displayed in the results. I know there are messages that contain the search term when I open the Sent folder and can see them.







I've ensured that the macOS and Office suite are all up to date, restarted my Mac, moved the main profile out of the Profile15 folder onto the desktop and moved it back (supposedly to force re-indexing), but nothing so has worked. When I use Spotlight, I can find the messages, so I believe it's not a problem with the index.



What do I need to do to get the Outlook search function to work?









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Hello Fred,

I'm Diane, an Office Apps & Services MVP specializing in Outlook, and I’m happy to help you today.

See this article for possible solutions.to no search results.

--
Diane Poremsky
M365 MVP, specializing in Outlook, Exchange, and Microsoft 365 apps.

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This is not a solution. It is a new bug appeared after upgrade to Monterey and any reindexing and similar remedies does not help :-(

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The same behavior. Any many other people are affected by this bug after they did upgrade to Monterey 12.1 - see for example

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Same problem here, I'm also affected. Search is only returned results >1 month old. This is an absolute killer for using Outlook.

Following https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/outlook-for-mac-search-returns-no-results-and-task-items-are-not-displayed-cf6eb856-ed4f-54e9-3ef2-546046d87c7e I've noticed that the ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook folder does not exist on my machine. Hence also the spotlight re-indexing is not possible as suggested.

This issue should be escalated in priority as it prevents business use of Outlook.

Thanks,

Andreas

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Adding myself to the list. This is Monterey 12.1 and Spotlight have broken the search function in Outlook. The thread over on Macrumors is now 8 pages long of people saying support is aware of it and working on it. This is crushing to have to switch to OWA in 365 for search.

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Another person affected.

Microsoft, please release a fix ASAP!!!!

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Same issue…

Microsoft, please fix it ASAP…

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Hi!

It's really a pain to search emails... I must add my account on Apple Mail for search only...

In the "new" Outlook, search is working but not compatible with OnPremise Exchange. So, please Microsoft, fix that! Each update has bug...

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another un-happy user... I am so glad I found this and the thread over at Macrumors. I did all the KB articles un-installed and re-installed re-indexed etc. I have resorted to keeping an RDP window from a pc open on one of my Mac screens for now. Email without search is worthless. I really don't understand why we can't have feature parity and stability on a Mac?

I pay my annual family subscription so that I have the latest and it just works...so much for that...

I would bet the majority of us that use outlook do so for work.... we need this working now...

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Search in Outlook 2016 is completely totally non-functional on macos 12.1 Monterey. Spotlight can find emails, but the search in Outlook always returns nothing.

Things tried:

  • Forced spotlight to reindex.

  • Removed the Outlook.sqlite file to force an Outlook 2016 database rebuild.

  • Removed and re-added all my accounts.

  • Reinstalled Office including outlook.

End result is that Search in Outlook is toast.

I am a family plan member. I would like to see Support acknowledge the bug and an ETA for a fix be made available.

Thank you!

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Last updated August 19, 2024 Views 8,021 Applies to: