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splasch's avatar
splasch
Copper Contributor
Jan 13, 2019

Outlook for Mac 2019 - Search not working :-(

Hi there New contributor - I have just upgraded Office 2016 for Mac to Office 2019 for Mac.  The Spotlight Search option in Outlook no longer works - I get no results, even when I am looking at an e...
Rimsky's avatar
Rimsky
Copper Contributor
Jan 16, 2021

splasch 

 

I tried everything and in my case the only thing that solved the issue was selecting the New Outlook option from the top right of Mac Outlook.  After that, Outlook relaunched with the new look and also Search now works.

 

Mac mini M1 with Big Sur.  Outlook for Mac 16.45.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

  • MajorTom466's avatar
    MajorTom466
    Copper Contributor
    Feb 03, 2021

    Rimsky  Thanks for the tipp- that solved the problem...

     

    I got the same problem with Big Sur and indeed I tried once the "New Outlook" but as I didn't liked it switched back to the previous look. Obviously this caused the trouble, as with switching to the new Outlook search worked.

    Btw, switching back results in search not working. I don't know whether this I a trick to force users into the New Outlook, or a bug, but definitely a miserable performance from MS...

    • ctwardy's avatar
      ctwardy
      Copper Contributor
      Feb 03, 2021
      Right. Further info:

      * New Outlook can search new and old email just fine.
      * Old Outlook can search new email (since OS upgrade) but not old email.

      My workaround is to use OWA when I need to search old email. :-s
  • ctwardy's avatar
    ctwardy
    Copper Contributor
    Jan 19, 2021
    Good tip. Worked right away for the mailboxes that support New Outlook. Alas, most of mine don't. Also for me: spotlight reindex didn't help; stealing the Outlook database file did get Outlook's attention, but after it recovered still no Search.

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