Forum Discussion

SCSW_2021's avatar
SCSW_2021
Copper Contributor
Dec 16, 2021

Search not working in Outlook 2019 since updating to Monterey 12.1 on the Mac

There appears from other sites to be a very widespread problem with search not working in Outlook - no results obtained in Monterey- since the latest OS update. Rebuilding spotlight does not work and...
steverolfe_ca's avatar
steverolfe_ca
Copper Contributor
Jan 24, 2022
My search function broke when I switched from an 2017 Intel iMac running Mojave, to a 2020 M1 Big Sur MacBook Pro. I constantly perform searches on years of local, non-Exchange-based mail, as part of my job. A relatively simple re-index fixed the problem, but not before causing me days of grief.

I just upgraded to a new 2021 Monterey M1 Pro 16" MacBook, and now I have the same problem again. This is in Outlook v16.57, so the 16.57 update hasn't fixed it either.

I don't want to move to New Outlook, but I'll do it if it's the only option. Is there a way for me to move my old correspondence off my local Outlook mail folders and up onto the cloud, so it will still be visible in New Outlook?
steverolfe_ca's avatar
steverolfe_ca
Copper Contributor
Jan 24, 2022
Boy, is my face red. I opened a ticket w/Microsoft Support, but while waiting, I remembered the exact procedure that worked for me previously in Big Sur.

Sure enough, all I had to do was drag the Main Profile folder from the Library to the Privacy tab in System Preferences > Spotlight. Once it was added to the Privacy tab, I selected it, clicked on the minus to remove it, and restarted my computer.

Reindexing worked as it should, and now I can search my mail again.

Problem solved.
  • DonDonS's avatar
    DonDonS
    Copper Contributor
    Jan 24, 2022
    Interesting, is that 16.57 version of Outlook or the Beta version?
    I've repeatedly tried your strategy and many other but never worked
    • ajmarton's avatar
      ajmarton
      Brass Contributor
      Jan 24, 2022
      It's the update via the Beta Channel. And the latest version as of 1/24/22 is 16.58. Search works fine for both my exchange and IMAP accounts.
      • steverolfe_ca's avatar
        steverolfe_ca
        Copper Contributor
        Jan 24, 2022

        ajmartonand DonDonS, I've never knowingly signed up for a Beta version. This Outlook account is the lifeblood of my business, a small veterinary software consultancy.

        On an unrelated note, I did recently sign up the the most conservative version of the Windows Insider program, so I could start experimenting with Windows 11 for ARM under Parallels 17. At least for my purposes, it's absolutely not ready for prime time.

        For a minute there, you guys had me wondering if my Office 365 account might have been bumped into Beta status because of the Windows Insider status. 

        However, I checked for updates this morning, and again a moment ago. Microsoft still says that all apps are up to date, with my Outlook still at 16.57.

        Combine that with !kronj123 and MarcCalifornia's comments about having been on 16.58 for at least a few days seems to prove that I'm still on the general release stream, and NOT the Beta program.