Forum Discussion
Search function in Outlook not working
Ok solved. Used instructions here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/ie/en-US/2c0d4f35-b84a-48a1-b080-a58ad17493ce/outlook-2016-now-uses-the-exchange-search-index-in-priority?forum=outlook
basically, create a reg key to disable online search and prefer local index
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Search
Value name: DisableServerAssistedSearch
Value type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1
I also extended cached mode retention period (in account settings) to keep all data on device, so local index contains full mailbox.
This is not a fix. I'm much to busy to run around to all of my users and perform registry edits, and my manager is definitely not going store all of our email on our computers. That was the whole idea behind having a hosted email platform, Let the Host store the email on their servers so we have less to keep on our servers. I have a feeling we will be going back to hosting our own email on prem, or at our colo site. In the meantime, I still look for a permanent fix for this issue. Come on Microsoft. You can do it.
We're seeing issues with searching with some users too. It fails to find anything "search couldn't be completed" but if you choose search computer it works. The problem is only online searching but only effecting a few users.
Definitely seems like a problem on Microsoft's O365 end as none of the fixes work. Also, forcing it to search locally is not a fix.
Ignoring this Microsoft?
As we have been experiencing this issue for roughly 5 to 6 months, it doesn't seem to be high on Microsoft's priority list, (Although according to my users it should be #1 on the list.) And calling Office 365 Support doesn't yield any actual fixes, only work arounds. I think the support assistants are only there to buffer the complaints so Microsoft doesn't have to listen to them until they're ready to deal with any Office 365 issues. We have been seeing issues with Excel ever since we installed Office 365, and Office 365 support hasn't helped with that either. I still get daily complaints. I think our CIO is thinking of dumping Microsoft altogether and moving over to Linux. One of our divisions is already using open source, so it may happen.
