Search in Outlook puts your results on top
Published Nov 04 2019 06:00 AM 449K Views
Microsoft

Today, we’re delighted to share updates in Outlook that bring your search results to the top of your app experience, add top results and relevant suggestions to the Search box as well as new ways to find what you need when you search in Outlook on the go.   

 

We recognize that a powerful search tool is a key to getting things done quickly and efficiently.  Productivity is at the core of Outlook and therefore we’re rolling out updates to accelerate and simplify how Search helps you find contextually relevant information, get things done and connect with people.   

 

Over the next few months, you’ll experience these new capabilities in Outlook for Windows:

  • The Search box will move to the top of your app and include the capabilities currently provided in the Tell me what you want to do command
  • Outlook commands will be included in Search results similar to Microsoft Search in Office 365
  • Suggested results will be provided as you type in the Search box including emails

 

And these are the updates to Search in Outlook for iOS and Android for your smartphone and tablet:

  • A new experience that delivers Search results across different tabs
  • Keyword Search results will curate your top email results together
  • Search on the iPad will take advantage of the larger screen surface

 

So let’s dive into the details about these additions to the Search experience in Outlook:

 

Preview updates in Outlook for Windows

 

Last year, we introduced a new “Coming Soon” feature that offered customers a way to preview significant, new updates planned for Outlook for Windows.  With Coming Soon, customers could try the updates when it’s convenient and provide feedback before the updates become the new default experience in production – at which time Coming Soon would disappear. The first update we introduced with Coming Soon was the user experience design updates.  We’re starting to roll out Coming Soon again so you can preview the updates to Search being announced today.

 

When Coming Soon appears with your monthly Office 365 update for Windows, you can learn more about the changes by tapping the Coming Soon button.  It will open the Coming Soon pane that explains the changes giving you the choice to turn them on or wait until another time.  Now Coming Soon will introduce several changes to Search at once. 

 

Coming Soon is back to preview Search at the top of OutlookComing Soon is back to preview Search at the top of Outlook

 

First, the Search box is moving to the top of your email and calendar main canvases.  This update aligns with other Office 365 Search experiences and provides a prominent, consistent place across the apps you work with every day.  When you toggle Coming Soon on, the Search box will be at the top and the option “Tell me what you want to do” will be combined with Search. With Search at the top, it makes the message list pane a bit more tidy and leaves more room to view additional messages.

 

Coming Soon is rolling out now to Monthly Channel Targeted customers and will be introduced to Monthly Channel production customers in the coming weeks. This update will be available as a preview for a limited time --  eventually Coming Soon will go away and the changes will become the new default experience, just as we did when we introduced Coming Soon for customers to preview the new user experience updates in Outlook for Windows.

 

When Search is at the top of your Outlook app you’ll also get the personalized experience of Search Suggestions before you enter your search query. Just one tap into the Search box will show your most recent searches in a drop down menu (people often search for the same things time and again) as well as suggested people and emails addresses of those you communication or meet with most often.  These no-query suggestions are only relevant to you. 

 

Search Suggestions - includes contacts and their emailsSearch Suggestions - includes contacts and their emails

 

Additionally, when you enter a key words search query, we’ll provide Search Suggestions that will continue to change and update as you type more letters. Our plan is to gradually add suggestions such as emails, calendar events, files and commands as potential matches.   

 

Then, once you enter the full keyword search query, Outlook curates the results based on the most relevant information in your mailbox and puts those on top of the returned results followed by results in chronological order (Today, Yesterday etc).

 

Outlook for Windows - Top ResultsOutlook for Windows - Top Results

 

And don’t worry, when you enter a specific query, Outlook for Windows will continue to provide you with an option to correct spelling mistakes so your Search results are bang on.

 

Similar to other Microsoft Search experiences in Office 365, Outlook for Windows commands or Actions will be also be included in your Search suggestions.  For example if you type “sign” in the Search box you’ll start to see Actions in the Search suggestions that align with Outlook commands that include “sign” such as signature and design.  No need to use “Tell me what you want to do” to find the right command when the new Search box includes the answers in one place.  When Search moves to the top of Outlook for Windows, “Tell me what you want to do” will no longer be in your simplified or classic ribbon.

 

A new way to get results when you’re mobile

 

Today Search in Outlook mobile automatically surfaces your top Contacts, Files and other Upcoming events information without entering a query. What if what you need is not there with a single tap on the Search icon?  Top Results are also coming to your keyword search in Outlook for iOS and Android, just double tap the Search icon to go directly to the keyword search box.  Sometimes the most recent results aren’t most relevant. With Top Results we curate the three best results and show them to you at the top of your list, regardless of when they were sent. You’ll still be able to see the rest of the email results in date order and filter them for attachments. Top Results in Outlook for iOS and Android should start to roll out early in the new year.

 

 

 

Top Results in Outlook for AndroidTop Results in Outlook for Android

 

 

The Outlook mobile Search experience continues to evolve.  Recently we added Discover to your Search experience in Outlook for iOS, powered by Microsoft Graph. This feed uses machine learning to provide quick access to Office 365 documents that are popular among people close to you in your organization.

 

Outlook for iOS adds Discover feed from Office 365Outlook for iOS adds Discover feed from Office 365

Today, we also announced Meeting Insights in Outlook for iOS and Android.  With all these updates, we plan to simplify how your Search results show up in Outlook mobile. We’re pleased to announce a new experience to make it easier to find what you need and navigate with tabbed results. This new orientation to Search in Outlook mobile is designed to make it easier to flip through your keyword search results.  With one query, the results are organized across Top Results, Mail, Events and Contacts tabs to make it faster to locate the relevant information you’re looking for. Tabbed results should start to roll out early in 2020. [Update December 3, 2019:  Tabbed results will roll out first in Outlook for iOS in early 2020.  Plans for Outlook for Android will follow.]

 

 

Keyword Search results across tabs in Outlook mobileKeyword Search results across tabs in Outlook mobile

 

In case you missed the announcement Microsoft made this summer in partnership with Samsung, we updated the Outlook for Android tablet experience with a three-pane view for viewing your folders, message list and reading pane all at once. To take advantage of the extra tablet surface we also released the ability to see your keyword Search results in 2 panes so that you can see more results at once.  Similarly, last week we announced enhancements in Outlook for iOS with the Split View in iPadOS as just one of the many Outlook capabilities we deliver across the devices in the Apple ecosystem.  This update will also give you the ability to open multiple windows at the same time, including Search, in Outlook for iOS on the iPad.  

 

 

For those who love Groups in Outlook for Windows, you’ll be excited to learn about advanced email Group Settings option which will be available on your simplified ribbon and rolling out by the end of 2019. And we know you’ll be delighted about the ability to drag and drop emails from your message list to your Groups folder as well as having Microsoft Information Protection sensitivity labeling extend to  your Group – both coming early in 2020.  Learn about these updates and more about Office 365 Groups at this Microsoft Ignite session BRK2056.

 

Drag and drop emails into your Office 365 Groups in Outlook for WindowsDrag and drop emails into your Office 365 Groups in Outlook for Windows

 

Microsoft Ignite is an exciting time where you can learn about updates and things to come. In addition to the enhancements in Search and Calendar in Outlook mentioned here, we also have news to share about the new Outlook for Mac for Insider Fast community and updates that make Outlook for iOS and Android a gold standard for secure communications in the enterprise. Also, don’t miss what’s new in AI in Outlook for iOS with Play My Emails which brings you a new way to manage your inbox.

 

We love hearing from our customers so please share your feedback about all these updates by providing feedback in app or any time at on uservoice.com.

 

May 2020 Updates

 

Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback here, through Coming Soon in Outlook for Windows and other communication channels. With your feedback in mind, we’re adding functionality to further accelerate and simplify how Search in Outlook helps you find contextually relevant information quickly and efficiently.  As the default experience moves Search to the top of the Outlook for Windows app in the coming weeks, we’re rolling out the following updates:   

 

Advanced Search

To respond to requests for support of complex Search queries, we introduced a customizable Advanced Search experience. This provides you with instant access to more filtering options where and when you need them as opposed to adding more commands to Search on the Simplified Ribbon. We are still exploring ways to make the Advanced Search more discoverable but for now, simply click on Current Mailbox once you’ve clicked into in the Search box. If you choose to use Find options instead of keyword Search, we’ve added more Filter Email options to the Simplified Ribbon and if you want to use the Search options on the ribbon instead of the suggestions or the Advanced Search, you can quickly access it without the Advanced Search form overlay by simply hitting the escape key or Enter after you clicked in the Search box.

 

 

Refine and narrow your search with advanced optionsRefine and narrow your search with advanced options

 

Search closer to the results 

The Search box is moving to the top of most of the Microsoft 365 the apps and services and over time the search suggestions will also offer a consistent and coherent experience. However in Outlook, rather than keeping Search centered, we used dynamic positioning and sizing to align it to be closer to the results in the message list.  Better yet, we suggest that you use Search with the customizable Simplified Ribbon, controlled with the chevron on the far right, to bring your search results even closer.

 

Search at the top of Outlook with the classic ribbon optionsSearch at the top of Outlook with the classic ribbon options

 

Search in Outlook is closer to results with the Simplified RibbonSearch in Outlook is closer to results with the Simplified Ribbon

 

Based on feedback about the new Search experience in Outlook as well as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, we extended the area that can be used to click and drag the window to include the Search box area.  “Click and hold”  virtually anywhere across the top blue header, including the Search box while it’s in an inactive state, will allow you to drag and reposition the Outlook window to your preferred location.  

 

Search box is activated to click and reposition the Outlook windowSearch box is activated to click and reposition the Outlook window

 

Performance

Our goal is the make Search even more powerful.  The telemetry data shows that by turning off the experience of automatically changing search results as you type, users were 28% more successful finding what they need in the search suggestions.  By waiting until the users finish their typing and pressing enter, the results were more accurate, the experience felt less distracting and we improved accessibility of the feature.

 

These Search at Top updates are included as part of the Microsoft 365 Apps version 2004, however there are other areas we plan to update and will roll out in future releases:

 

"Right click and copy paste":  We are working quickly to add this capability back to the Search box and plan to have it in an upcoming release.

 

Copy and paste works in SearchCopy and paste works in Search

 

"Search scope options": Based on feedback that changing scope is an extra click away and a common enough scenario, we are actively working on a new scope selection drop down that will be on the left of the Search box as seen here:  

 

 

Scope options available through a drop down menuScope options available through a drop down menu

As a sneak peak, you can also check out the experience in Outlook on the web and click on the chevron left of the search icon.

 

Thank you for your continued feedback. 

 

 

260 Comments
Brass Contributor

Since it's not anymore a "coming soon" feature that one could remove, this new Search bar had become a nightmare.

 

Fortunately, I just discovered the "Advanced search" option menu that was apparently added as part of the 2020 May update. It partially replaces the use of the button that are hidden by the large drag box. good point.

 

However, in that case, I'm still wondering about the general principle of keeping a search Ribbon. This only purpose of this ribbon is to support a search: and it only appears when one proceeds with a search. So if one cannot see it when he/she proceeds with a search, why keep it? It just absurd!

 

 

 

Iron Contributor

Dear @Outlook Team, we're not screaming on the first day. We have tried a few weeks to get used to a search box in the title bar. That did not happen and we want it back where was and where it makes sense. The title bar is meant to position a window on your screen and to provide some minimal information about that window. Don't clutter it with your permanent avalanche of new features.

We only want to search the current message folder. We also dislike the bombastic drop-down list with suggestions. We know what we want to search for and we can type with more than one finger. No, we don't use touch-screens and we never will.

And again: we absolutely HATE these changes arriving unannounced in the middle of a busy working day. We are in this office to get our own core business done, not to get new "experiences" from Microsoft every month. We would love to have an LTS version of Office. Only security updates. Feature changes? Once in 2 years for us, not more!

Copper Contributor

Why, why do they do this to us?

 

What was wrong with the way it was? Mine doesn't even work now. I'm again working on indexing my outlook to hopefully get it to function.

 

Changes like this, are like bug on the bottom of a shoe.

 

Is an IT person, when you remove a vital feature that people use and move it, and make it MORE complicated, you cause way more problems than you help. 

 

Not only am I, a person who understands change and tries to adapt ALL THE TIME, team members are. You have caused me to simply say,

 

"Microsoft screwed this up, thank them for ruining such a simple process. I hate it as much as everyone who uses Outlook. They can't even make today stand out in the calendar."

 

UNREAL. First comment I've posted in 10 years of being a heavy MSFT user because it's such a SIMPLE THING YOU RUINED.

 

Please, for the love of all that was right with Microsoft; PLEASE PUT THE SEARCH BAR BACK WHERE IT WAS IN OUTLOOK.

Brass Contributor

My biggest complaint, other than the position being so far away which I hate, is that the Search box has taken the place of the Folder Name in the title bar. I use folders a lot, and when I switch to a different folder and then get called away to do something else, I come back and have no idea where I am. Please put the Folder Name back. Somewhere. 

Brass Contributor

THIS IS THE MOST INFURIATING CHANGE.

 

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the previous search location.

 

I am at a loss for words, going to completely tank productivity. I do 100+ searches a day.

 

AND IT BLOCKS THE RESULTS!

 

Why not have an option to keep it where it was????

 

Prepare for the outrage to be even greater once others are moved over.

Iron Contributor
I like the change, when you use the compressed ribbon, it frees up a lot of real estate. I can see it frustrating for some, but give it time and its easy after that.
Copper Contributor

Is there a way we can replace the search bar with the original, or at least back to it's original location?

Brass Contributor

@ChrisMuston unfortunately not that I have seen. Only way to get rid of it right now is to downgrade office. That's not a perminant solution either unfortunately

Copper Contributor

Horrible change. 

I can see how it supports the 'mobile' community. But it leaves the (professional) desktop community with a downgraded, time-consuming 'solution'

 

Did anyone from the development team actually test-use this functionality on a desktop environment?

 

I fully support @ChrisMuston .

At least let us desktop users stick to our interface. Why fix break something that worked fine before.

Copper Contributor

Emiliano999_0-1589200183495.png

Emiliano999_1-1589200366301.png

 

Brass Contributor

Working people use desktop outlook 8 hours/day, and mobile outlook no more than 1 hour.

So, please, put desktop over mobile for development, at least for business versions.

 

AS all people said, this change was awfull and impacts performance.

 

Please, give back a "classic View" for business. Even if has to be paid as an extra addon.

 

Brass Contributor

@Eugenie Burrage

I really do not like the position of the new Search bar. Too far up on big screen.
But, why has it also anchored the right hand edge of Folder pane to the left most edge of the Search bar? I can't make the folder pane smaller, but when you minimise it and expand it, it overlaps and I can't see my first 3 columns.
Not everyone uses a 24" screen and this is valuable screen space on a laptop!

Copper Contributor

Como vuelvo atrás esta actualización de mierda? 

Copper Contributor

Thanks. 

Whenever I search my inbox and the results come including the unread emails come first, first email on list immediately become read. 

To eliminate chances or mistakes, I want to be able to avoid the first email on results become "read" without me clicking on it. Is there a way?

Copper Contributor

@Eugenie Burrage  I dont think search on top is a Good move..  provide option user to select need in top or bottom...

 

here is the impact of new search option... 

UnaisTK_0-1589444001311.png

 

Copper Contributor

Please create a way to go back to a classic view for the search bar. Anything I'd write would just be echoing all the other sentiments that have come in on this thread about the bad new search location.

Copper Contributor

The new search build doesn't have the option to search shared calendars / room calendars anymore. Before this build you were able to select the calendar you wanted to search and efficiently search for appointments. Now no mater what options you select or use advanced search you can't search shared calendars it just switches back to your personal mail box. I have staff that heavily used that search option now a large part of their job is impossible to do.

Brass Contributor

PLEASE add back the option to update search results as I type. It's fine if you don't want to make it the default, but the let the user decide.

 

You say, "The telemetry data shows that by turning off the experience of automatically changing search results as you type, users were 28% more successful finding what they need in the search suggestions. By waiting until the users finish their typing and pressing enter, the results were more accurate, the experience felt less distracting and we improved accessibility of the feature."

 

I say, "Not updating search results as I type makes finding what I want 300% slower than the old way!"  I have tested it.

 

I applaud Microsoft for adding features and making improvements to their software, but some users like me just want my search results to appear as I type.  If that slows search down too much, then let me turn off all the other stuff it has to search through like Help topics.  

 

It seems to me that you hamstrung "search as you type" because you wanted the resources to search Help and other things that I rarely need to search.

Brass Contributor

Now, I've unninstalled office, download the img file (on the install, choose to download the installer instead of online install)

Disconnects form internet while install from that file (just to avoid online updates)

After that, had to connect internet to log in, open outlook, DISABLE UPDATES in account settings, and also disable anything on PRIVACY.

At least for now, I recover my search bar and get outlook "usable"

I can live without updating. Just check from time to time if they review this mistake, and fix the "improvement", before update again.

And save that file like gold, because soon or later they update the image, and then loose the chance to get the old office back.

Copper Contributor

In some cases ( like for RDS users ) the new location for the search bar is not friendly.

When the connection bar for the RDS is always pin its hide the search bar

Screenshot_11.jpg

Of course you can move the connection bar and unpin, but every new connection appears again

Also in some cases when user type in the search bar, it required from the user to keep looking between 2 locations ( search bar and results pane).

@Eugenie Burrage 

It would be better to give the user the choice of where to place the search bar.

Iron Contributor
Brass Contributor

I am out of here...  It's too frustrating to see how Microsoft appears to ignore well-intentioned, thoughtful requests from its users without any meaningful replies.  Things are tough enough these days without having to go through this.  Enough!

Copper Contributor

This is so annoying - the search drop down covers up the search tab and i have to click somewhere just to see the "From" option - really hate this - stick it to the far right or somewhere else where it does not cover the menu items i want to use every time i search

Brass Contributor

In Outlook, CTRL+F doesn't open or focus search but acts as Reply both in email list as well in open email. This is terrible as CTRL+F is the most common way to start search everywhere.

The upper location of small search box is very bad, especially using big screens - UX people in MS, please try using that tiny upper search box on 32" screen - practically not usable, take a look at added image.
Please put the Outlook search box back where it used to be - it's not a good design as it is. 

evimail_0-1589894481116.png

 

Brass Contributor

Please generate search results as I type.  I often need to add or remove just one character from my existing search criteria.  The new results used to be instantaneous.  Now, I have to press Enter every time I make a small modification to my Search criteria.  This does not make things faster.  This does not make things more efficient.  Please at least give us the ability to turn back on "results as you type."  I can't help but wonder if Microsoft really shut of instant search to accommodate the mountain of other data they now want to search through.  It seems like spin and propaganda to me for Microsoft to cite that search is now 28% faster because you have to hit the Enter key after typing your search criteria.  Microsoft seems to have turned off a great feature to enable searching the Help system and other content that many of us don't care about and will never use.  All I want to do is search my Outlook data quickly and get back to work.  I want to do so with a little mouse movement and key strokes as possible.  Microsoft:  Please stop slowing me down and making things more inefficient.  When you make dictator-like decisions like this, please simply maintain the option for users to switch back to the more efficient way.  Then, everyone is happy.  

 

Also, please give us the option to move that search box back down near the search results.  Why should our eye have to move back and forth across the screen so much?  Suggesting that we minimize the ribbon to get the search box closer is asinine.  I like the big ribbon and use it all day.  I do not want it minimized.  Thank you for giving me the choice to show the ribbon how I want it.  Now, please give me the choice to move the Search box and return Outlook search results as I type.

Copper Contributor

This is yet another example of the benefits of using the boxed version of Office 2016 and not Office 365.  It would be fine if Microsoft wanted to push controversial updates as long as they simply kept the ability to go back to the better way.  In other words, they shouldn't force sweeping changes like this if 90% off their users aren't on board.  As evidenced by these 3 pages of users complaining, there is a high percentage of users that do not find this change more efficient.  I love innovation and feature updates.  However, part of what comes with that in a mature product like Outlook is that the developer needs to add a setting that keeps the user in control of all major changes like this.  Let the user decide.

Iron Contributor

I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ROLLED BACK OUTLOOK AND MY SEARCH BAR RETURNED TO ITS GOOD OLE LOCATION!!!!  THERE IS HOPE! 

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2770432/how-to-revert-to-an-earlier-version-of-office-2013-...

 

I used the above steps....the build i rolled back to in the XML file was 12624.20442

 

After the update to the build the search bar was still at the top...had to restart windows then it went back to where it should be!

:) 

Brass Contributor

After many, many recent -- and serious -- problems with Outlook 365, our personal computer tech unsubscribed me from Office Insider, reinstalled Office 365, and everything is back where it belongs.  It's our opinion that Office Insider is where the "Coming Soon" changes came from.  I shouldn't have been participating in a developer process and I won't do it again!  I signed up and thought I was helping Microsoft, but that's apparently not the way it works.

 

What a nightmare...only IT professionals should work with Insider, in my opinion!

 

I would love to hear if other users find this to be a possible connection (subscribed to Office Insider?  having problems with Outlook?).

Brass Contributor

Microsoft, 

Could you please grant the user the options to select where the search bar goes?  How about allowing the user to decide to either leave it where it is, or give the option to select to place it above the Ribbon?  Why force this on people?  I've had some in our company tell me they do not like this change at all.  Please listen to you customers.  A lot of them do not like this change.  

 

Thanks.

Brass Contributor

In the past, if I had an email with the following text in it, "gibberish 200530", I could search "gibberish 2005", and Outlook would find it.  Now, I need to type the whole query,"gibberish 200530."  This is VERY bad.  Outlook should be smart enough to return partial matches.  

 

The other problem is that Outlook used to return my search results as I typed.  So, sometimes, I'd only have to type a few characters such as "gibberi" and by then my result already appeared.  Now, I have to decide when I think I've typed enough and press Enter to execute my query.  More often than not, I find that I haven't been specific enough, so I need to add more to my query and press "Enter" again.  This slows the process of searching way down.  Ugh!

 

@Eugenie Burrage of Microsoft who wrote this article said, "The telemetry data shows that by turning off the experience of automatically changing search results as you type, users were 28% more successful finding what they need in the search suggestions. By waiting until the users finish their typing and pressing enter, the results were more accurate, the experience felt less distracting and we improved accessibility of the feature."  The important piece of data that she left out is what percentage of users were 28% more successful in finding what they need.  In other words, for the percentage of users that are distracted by results as they type, let them keep "search as you type" off.  For users like me, let me keep "search as you type" on.  For me, I can find what I want WAY faster by having the search results appear as I type.  It takes me way longer to keep returning to the search box to add more criteria and press Enter again just to re-run the search when I need to narrow my results.  

 

Oh, by the way, PLEASE put the Titles back on the Title Bars of each window.  Right now, I have Outlook open, and I can't readily tell which folder I'm in.  I have to scroll up and down my folder list to see which one is highlighted or I have to look at my Task Bar and try and figure out which window is active.  Please put the window titles back.  If they can't fit with the Search bar there, then that's yet another reason why the search bar does not belong on the title bar.  Guess what?  Every millimetre of space does not need to be filled with controls and data.  There can be a little unused space to help us breathe.  The title bar already had great function.  It informed us where we were in Outlook, and it let us easily grab it for window movement or click on it to make the window active. 

 

Thanking you for considering my suggestions.  It helps to vent because I am just so frustrated and infuriated by these changes.

 

 

 

Iron Contributor

I'm not a fan of the new position.  Any chance we are going to get the option to move it.  Being left of center is not optimal for me.  Prefer right aligned and preferably back where it used to be, right over the folder list.  Where is is now placed is out of sight, out of mind.  Plus it also appears squished and the text smaller than the rest of the text on the screen.

 

Also the drop down option to choose folder/mailbox is more complicated than before due to the default layout is the current folder with advanced features listed.  If I want to change folder or mailbox I need to move the mouse to a different location to change.  Considering 99.9% of of my search options consist of simply choosing the folder or mailbox I want to search then this new layout just become annoying for those 99.9% of the time I use it.

 

So sorry but not a fan of this change.

Copper Contributor

In German we have a word for such kind of improvements, i.e., "verschlimmbessern" which means:

Trying to improve things but actually make them worse.

(source of this sentence: www.leo.org online dictionary)

Copper Contributor

I love the Search on top. Its nice. It uses the space available, so why not to have it there. Please Microsoft keep it. 

I got it on my Word 365 but not for Outlook 365 yet. Any idea when it will appear on Outlook?

r1maa_0-1591360504817.png

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Thank you.

 

Brass Contributor

@r1maa "why not have it there?"... have you read any of the previous posts here? You might see 1 or 2 reasons why not... 

Iron Contributor

@r1maa  first you say search at the top is better...but you've only tried it in word, not outlook.  There is little to no need to search word.  there is a huge need to use it in outlook.  You should try something before you comment on it.  you are the only person that likes it, probably cause you haven't tried it

Iron Contributor

@r1maa  Are you a Russian bot?  Please read the thread.  We are discussing Outlook ... NOT Word.  Please move your comment to the appropriate Post.

Brass Contributor

Hi

 

Few questions below.  Can anyone answer?

 

  • When is the change to the search bar in Outlook going to be rolled out to all users? 
  • Will there be the opportunity to opt out of this change or control when it is applied? 
  • Is there any Microsoft information that can be shared with end users to educate them on this change?

Many thanks

Copper Contributor

I think the new Outlook search window location is a disaster.  I use search constantly.  When reading my emails, my cursor is nearly always at the top of the list of emails.  I used to be able to move my mouse just slightly to get to search window; now I have to move it all the way to top of the window.  This is TERRIBLE!!  Please enable a legacy view.  dave

Copper Contributor

PLLLLLLEASE let us move the search back down to the old location. The new location is counter-intuitive and inconvenient.

 

There is no other content in any other program that requires me to look at that spot at the very tip-top of my screen. I feel like I may need to adjust my monitor height just because you guys moved this one feature--or risk neck strain.

 

I use "search" frequently and while using it often edit my search terms based on the results--it is awkward to have the search separated from the results...

Brass Contributor

@dlandsman -- Have you tried this?:  After many, many recent -- and serious -- problems with Outlook 365, our personal computer tech unsubscribed me from Office Insider, reinstalled Office 365, and everything is back where it belongs.  It's our opinion that Office Insider is where the "Coming Soon" changes came from.  I shouldn't have been participating in a developer process and I won't do it again!  I signed up and thought I was helping Microsoft, but that's apparently not the way it works.

 

What a nightmare...only IT professionals should work with Insider, in my opinion!

 

I would really like to know if other users try this and find it to be a possible connection (subscribed to Office Insider?  having problems with Outlook?).

Brass Contributor

@Just_Jeff:  As I have posted before, "After many, many recent -- and serious -- problems with Outlook 365, our personal computer tech unsubscribed me from Office Insider, reinstalled Office 365, and everything is back where it belongs.  It's our opinion that Office Insider is where the "Coming Soon" changes came from.  I shouldn't have been participating in a developer process and I won't do it again!  I signed up and thought I was helping Microsoft, but that's apparently not the way it works.

 

What a nightmare...only IT professionals should work with Insider, in my opinion!

 

I would really like to know if other users try this and find it to be a possible connection.

Copper Contributor

So this actually moves the search bar away from my workspace.  I don't use the Reading Pane.  (I despise it for a couple of reasons.)  This forces me to actually open the message to read it and the message is only marked as read when I open it.  This new location feature puts the search bar in an area of the window that I don't regularly look at.. above the ribbon.  The only time I look at that part of the window is to exit. 

 

So I am imagine this is a nice improvement for people who use the Reading Pane and probably are annoyed that it truncates the size of the message list and consequentially the search bar... but for me it is a productivity back step.  If I didn't use it so much it wouldn't be an issue.  But as in 5S, you put those items that you use least farthest away, and those items that you use most the closest.  Oh well. 

Copper Contributor

The new version of search in Outlook is the weakest search engine I have seen; almost unusable IMHO.  Position of the search bar is one thing; usability is a more serious issue for me.   For years I used the old Eudora email server and that undoubtedly was the best email server ever.  The search engine was outstanding; I loved how they managed email attachments; and, the list goes on.  Unfortunately, support for Eudora ended several years ago.  I mention this as the Outlook product management team should take a look at how elegant the features in Eudora were implemented if they can find an old version of the product.  It might help them improve the UX/UI of Outlook and can be a source of ideas for how to improve Outlook and especially search.  Just one person's POV.    

Copper Contributor

I love it in my PC. I use it daily. Its way better. Thank you Microsoft. 

"This new home for search will leave a cleaner message list where you'll have space to fit additional messages."

Copper Contributor

@Gfyrlw @Sc98765edfghjl @ERabinowitz

 

I got it on Outlook 365 as well. It's perfect. Thank you. 

Copper Contributor

I can't understand what the blog is for if the views of the writers are not taken into any consideration by Microsoft.

Copper Contributor

I really do not like the new position of the search bar. It feels separated from the messages you are searching because the ribbon is in-between. 

Please don't fix it if it ain't broken.

Steel Contributor

Oh good grief, no. This anti-pattern is annoying enough in Teams without it being in Outlook as well. It breaks the entire window manipulation model, where the top bar of the window is a grab handle for moving the window. This is common to all applications on the platform. One of the golden rules of UI design is that you respect platform conventions. Now we have to carefully avoid the search bar and the other controls to move the window. Where's the option to turn it off?

Copper Contributor

Hi,

 

Is there a way to change it back a few of my colleges have been asking me to change it back but i havent found an easy way to do it. any ideas

Brass Contributor

@CreativeTech 

As I have posted before, "After many, many recent -- and serious -- problems with Outlook 365, our personal computer tech unsubscribed me from Office Insider, reinstalled Office 365, and everything is back where it belongs.  It's our opinion that Office Insider is where the "Coming Soon" changes came from.  I shouldn't have been participating in a developer process and I won't do it again!  I signed up and thought I was helping Microsoft, but that's apparently not the way it works.

 

What a nightmare...only IT professionals should work with Insider, in my opinion!

 

I would really like to know if other users try this and find it to be a possible connection.

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