Forum Discussion
The new Outlook search in the title bar is disconnected from the content it searches
I appreciate the benefits of Microsoft Search in the Office apps but I'm getting feedback form multiple people that having the search in the title bar is unhelpful because they need to use the title bar for dragging the window around. In Outlook in particular, having the search box so far away from the content that you're searching is jarring. I understand the value of consistency, but I think that the utility of putting search with the content it searches overrides being consistent at all costs. Can we have an option to move the search box back down to the content in Outlook, and perhaps not to have it in title bars at all?
222 Replies
It's typical new-age MS-BS(TM) that we have integrated features like OneDrive and LinkedIn built into Office with settings, despite not actually contributing to the app's function much; but that simple (actually useful) core features like email search, which affect work-flow, are changed en masse without desire or consent from its users, and is devoid of options to put it back to where years of muscle memory know it is. If there's a petition to make it and any future unwanted 'features' come with reversion options, I'll sign it!
I'm not against adding features and on some apps I'm always eager to improve workflow, but this is a mature platform and needs more functionality OPTIONS, not forced alternatives to existing core functions. The Outlook team should work on making encryption options integrated if they are really that desperate for ideas on what to improve on.
I have been using Outlook for over 20 years aned I reallly dont like the location of the new search window. I use remote desktop extensivly to work from home. The remote desktop tab at the top of the screen always covers up the new Outlook Search bar. Every time I do a serch I have to slide the remote desktop tab over to see the new search field. Its really frusterating and slows me down. I dont understood why developers force their new ideas without offering an option to change the location back to where it was if they dont like it. I also dont like that its not even in the main software window and I have to look up to see it. I never had a problem with the search feature before the change and dont see the need to change it. MaryB
- I have a question for Microsoft developers - is appearance really the most important thing and not functionality?
I have used Office since at least 1995, and it was one of the best and most valuable programs in the world. And until 2016 updates for them were mostly reasonable.
But after that I even can't understand is there any developer who uses the programs on a daily basis and has been doing so for more than 1 year?
Why are they breaking things that were so good that they didn't need to be changed at all, and they did what they were meant to do? You put them locations where they don't fit and besides, they don't do what they should do?
Right now I see that no one cares anymore about users who have been using the product for more than 3-4 years? And about that search, I see also in my phone when I open outlook and try search something, I lose my focus! I see everything else but not that thing I needed - I wanted search emails, not contacts, not documents I changed last year?
Please give me name of that "smart guy", who thinks that if I go to store and try find bread from bread's shelf - you need to show me choice of cosmetics, women's underwear and all other things I did not want?
PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT!
Before You will break fundamentals of program, please consult at least some of the users who has used and still using them.
Quite certainly there are a lot of people in the world who would like to continue using these programs as they have used them for 25 years, rather than re-learning every year because a bunch of young developers thought they were the smartest to decide what is better for the whole world!
So, please, fix that Outlook search as I must work with it almost 24x7 and it was good enough that there was no need to change it at all! And anyway - don't lose focus on what the user did.
To develop, I still think means make things better not just nicer. 🙂I am hating the search bar at the top, for some weird reason it has only just moved, and my Outlook is always updated.
I need it near the content, I have multiple inboxes and it was so much easier when it was above the inbox near the content, now I have to move around with my mouse more in Outlook to search.
Which idiot developer thought this was a good idea?
I've already moaned on here once, but now that I've been forced to work with this a little longer, my opinion... is simply that it's worse than I previously thought.
I now have no faith in the result sets I get when searching my mailboxes. Items I could find using a combination of, for example, sender's name and a "tag" from within the body of the mail no longer show up.
To summarize: THIS SUCKS!!!!!! WHO on god's green earth, and WHO USES THE TOOLS DAY-IN and DAY-OUT could POSSIBLY think any of this is "progress"? I don't care of "Project Cortex" is going to tell me 2 days in advance before my socks develop holes... I WANT TO FIND WHAT I NEED TO FIND WHEN I NEED TO FIND IT? WHO do I need to talk to (Product managers, engineering, dev...?) to get this point across?
Thanks
A very controlled, calm and centered Russ
(I would've included some quotes about leading a Mindful Life, BUT I CAN'T FIND THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi all, 365 Office, fully updated on win10 and yes like you I was appalled at the change at first.
I use search a lot, like all day every day, private consultant, 2 personal businesses and at least 9 separate email accounts at once. Like many I have had to be careful when creating new or reply email to ensure that I am sending from the proper acct but I have only made that mistake once in the many months since the location changed. I have gotten used to always starting with the "from" dialog just in case.
Here are some tips that have made me forget all about my original issues with the change.
Alt-Q and to open always but it's my left forefinger so it's natural
a quick esc removes the dropdown for ribbon access
Many times I am repeating a task so the recently used items has what I am looking for
It only blocks a couple of items and I am usually digger way deeper anyway.
I am always in "All Mailboxes" mode so I can catch my criteria regardless
I used the search all unread or "isread:no" function so much I made it a customized item on my quick access along with many other repeated tasks,
hope this helps a bit
ed
- I too, believe that the Search Bar needs to be placed near to the content it searches from.
Or better, they could allow the position of the search bar to be changed by the users as they seem fit.
It is a nightmare to use such a feature in the current way.Maybe its just me, but I have a hard time clicking into the new search bar to show the details search by e.g. subject, to, from... appear. It appears briefly and goes away again....?
Also, having to 'click' on 'Search' rather than hitting 'Enter' is annoying and time consuming.
This new Search takes significant time out of my schedule, bad decision to change it!
I have the same problem. I think the response time is a lot slower so you have to methodically calculate your timing or the whole window shrinks.
- On my office PC, the search is at the top however on my home PC and my laptop, the search bar is down under the ribbon where i like it. all versions are Microsoft 365 and up to date so I have no idea why they are different
Same problem. I have four installs of Microsoft 365 Outlook desktop and I never know which one will show what search bar. Yesterday the new search bar was in the title bar. Today, after forcing a version update (MS "Update" wont' do it), the search is back to it's old position.
What's with this? Why not let users control this?
In addition, it requires more klicks to search, since even the "Search" button needs to be clicked and does not response to CR.
Also, the navigation to make the individual search parameters visible is very cumbersome and hard to navigate.
Is there any what to migrate back to the previous search directly on top not the emails?
MaryB Net result: A crippling loss of functionality. What was lost? Any way to easily see what email account or folder I'm in. That used to be on the top of the window. Now it has completely disappeared. The only way to see "where I am" is the highlighted folder name in the left-hand panel. I have 5 email accounts that I must monitor. Within each account I have tens to dozens of folders. When expanded (my normal configuration) the left hand list can take many seconds to scroll through.
Expected result: massive loss of time and situational awareness. And accidentally sending emails to people and organizations with an inappropriate email account address.
Please urge MS to restore visibility of account/folder name.PNAdvocateMike You can set the default to search in the folder you are currently in or only in the mailbox you are in.Folder seems to be the only one working properly, all the others do not turn back all the results.
If MS is reading , I joined this group solely to complain about the new search location changing without my approval but I've gotten over that. However, MS could make this a wonderful tool by adding the following: rather than default to any folder, give us some quick click options like: this folder, all folders, sent folder - even better let me customize those "buttons" as I might have multiple email accts.
On my screen, you have the real estate- pls MS, this would calm a lot of the complaints and would increase productivity vs more clicks to find the folder I want to search. Tx
I find it very interesting that there has been no comment from Microsoft. I've started looking for a new office suite as MS obviously has no plans to change this back. If anyone figures out a fix or finds an alternative office suite, please post.
BigJohn1966 well you can revert back to a version that has the searchbar at to usefull position and not on top like described here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2770432/how-to-revert-to-an-earlier-version-of-office-2013-or-office-2016-clic
Version Version 2002 (Build 12527.20194) seems to do the trick.
For other ideas check: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_office_suites
- Just tagging along here to voice our disdain for the search moving out of the outlook reading view pane and into the nav bar. We are not fans. Would love the ability to move it at will or revert back to where it was. The Search is wayyyyy to significant a feature right now to move it out of where it is. Hopefully Microsoft is adding a new and improved search feature. If not please give us back the old search box location.
