Outlook Search Isn’t Working—How to Rebuild the Index

If Outlook’s search feature isn’t returning results or seems broken, rebuilding the index can often resolve the issue. This guide walks you through the steps to fix it. 

Steps to Rebuild the Search Index 

     1. Close Outlook 

a. Make sure Outlook is fully closed before proceeding. 

     2. Open Indexing Options 

a. Go to Control Panel > Indexing Options. 

b. You can also search “Indexing Options” from the Start menu. 

     3. Rebuild the Index 

a. Click Advanced. 

b. Under the Troubleshooting section, click Rebuild. 

c. Confirm the action when prompted. 

     4. Wait for the Index to Rebuild 

a. This may take some time depending on your mailbox size. 

b. You can monitor progress in the Indexing Options window. 

     5. Restart Outlook 

a. Open Outlook and try searching again.