Advanced Fixes for Outlook Search Not Working (2025 Update)

If you’ve already tried rebuilding the index but Outlook or Office 365 search still won’t respond, this advanced guide from FixTechGuide takes you deeper into system-level fixes to restore fast, accurate results without reinstalling Office.

Also read: Office 365 Search Not Working After Update (Part 1)

1. Verify Windows Search Service Integrity

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, locate Windows Search, set Startup Type → Automatic → Restart. Updates sometimes disable this service, freezing Outlook’s indexing.

2. Repair the Index Database Manually

Delete %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows → restart. Windows rebuilds a clean index folder automatically. Then in Outlook → File → Options → Search → Indexing Options → Rebuild.

3. Reset Outlook Search via Registry Editor

Open regedit → go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search → find SetupCompletedSuccessfully → change value 0 → 1 → restart. This forces Windows Search to re-initialize.

4. Use Microsoft SaRA Tool

Download the Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) from Microsoft’s site. Choose Outlook Search doesn’t return results. It auto-repairs registry keys, service states, and file associations.

5. Disable Problematic Add-ins

Go to File → Options → Add-ins → COM Add-ins → Go → uncheck third-party plugins. Restart Outlook to test. Some add-ins silently block the search API.

6. Repair OST / PST Data Files

Run SCANPST.EXE inside your Office install folder. Repair every profile file before rebuilding the index. Corrupted OST/PST files are a top cause of incomplete search results.

7. Recreate Your Outlook Profile (Last Resort)

Control Panel → Mail → Show Profiles → Add new. Reconnect your IMAP or Exchange account; Outlook downloads mail again. This removes hidden corruption and sync issues.

📊 Optimization Tips

• Keep PST files < 10 GB for faster indexing.
• Disable Fast Startup if search fails after reboot.
• Always run latest Windows and Office updates.

🔗 Related Articles

• Office 365 Search Not Working After Update (Part 1)
• Rebuild Outlook Search Index – Complete Guide
• Fix Outlook and Office 365 Sync Issues