Outlook Search Folder Not Refreshing

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  1. Outlook Refresh Search Folder

Outlook not refreshing my inbox I have the server timeout to be 50 seconds - however I am not receiving the mails regularly. When I view my mail box from webmail - I see them.

Is Outlook Search not working? Fixing it isn’t hard. Just follow our seven ways to get Outlook search working again.

1. Is Outlook Search Not Working? Rebuild the Outlook Index

Outlook Search Folder Not Refreshing

To get you started, jump straight into this Outlook search fix that usually resolves the issue straight out of the gate. There are two ways of doing this. Both are quick and usually work.

Method 1: Use Programs and Features

To rebuild the Outlook index when Outlook search isn’t working, type control into the Windows 10 search bar and select the best match to open the Control Panel. Now, head to Programs > Programs & Features. Scroll down and select Outlook 2016 or Microsoft Office [your version].

Now, select Change from the top menu, as highlighted in the image below. You can now choose Quick Repair or Online Repair. Choose Quick Repair, then Repair, to fix the Outlook indexing issue without using your internet connection.

Let the process complete then restart your system.

Method 2: Use the Outlook Index Repair Menu Option

There is a second Outlook index repair menu option—you just need to know where to find it.

Open Outlook, then select File > Options > Search. Now, select Indexing Options, followed by Advanced.

Finally, select Rebuild, and click OK. This might well take a moment. After the rebuild is complete, restart your system.

Also: Double Check the Indexing Status

There is a quick way to check the Outlook indexing status.

Within Outlook, select the search bar. Then, select the Search tab from the menu bar. Now, select Search tools > Indexing status and see how many items are awaiting index. You can still use Outlook search while the remaining items get indexed, but you will encounter some omissions.

2. Check Outlook Index Locations

Next up, double-check that Outlook is on the list of indexed locations.

Open Outlook and head to File > Options > Search > Indexing Options. Select Modify from the Indexing Options panel. Make sure there is a check alongside Microsoft Outlook, then press OK.

Now, restart your system.

3. Fix Outlook Search Using the Registry

It is possible to repair Outlook search using the Windows Registry.

Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. Then, type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor. Next, press Ctrl + F to open the search menu, then copy and paste the following registry key:

Once found, select the right-hand panel, then right-click and select New Dword (32-bit). Name the new Dword PreventIndexingOutlook and assign it the value 0.

Press OK, then restart your system.

4. Update Microsoft Office 2016

When was the last time your Office version updated? Your Outlook search issues might resolve by updating Office to the latest versionAutomatic Updates in Microsoft Office 2016 ExplainedAutomatic Updates in Microsoft Office 2016 ExplainedMicrosoft Office 2016 will be running an auto-update feature and a number of different servicing branches similar to Windows 10. Let’s explore what that means for your Office 2016 installation.Read More.

Open Outlook. Head to File > Office Account (just Account for other Office programs). Check under Product Information for the Update Options drop-down menu. Select Update Now if available and let the process complete.

If you do not see any update options at all and there is only an About button, consider the following:

  • Are you running a volume license issued by your workplace or similar?
  • Have you made changes to your system Group Policy?
  • Is your workplace or similar using a Group Policy to stop manual updates?
  • Has someone else installed a pirate version of Office on your system?

You can always manually install a Microsoft Office update via their Office Updates download page.

5. Repair Your Outlook Personal Folder File (.PST)

Another option is to repair your Outlook personal folder file (.PST) using the Inbox Repair tool. Outlook search may encounter issues if your Outlook personal folder file is corrupt.

First, you need to find the repair tool. Its location is dependent on your Outlook version. You’re looking for scanpst.exe in one of the following locations:

  • 32-bit Office 2016: C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice16
  • 64-bit Office 2016: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice16
  • 64-bit Outlook 2016: C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice16
  • Office 365 (2016 package): C:Program FilesMicrosoft Officerootoffice16
  • 32-bit Office 2013: C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice15
  • 64-bit Office 2013: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice15
  • 64-bit Outlook 2013: C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice15
  • Office 365 (2013 package): C:Program FilesMicrosoft Officerootoffice15

Outlook Refresh Search Folder

You also need to know the location of your .pst file. Outlook 2010, 2013, and 2016 users should find their personal folder file at:

Now, right-click scanpst.exe and select Run as administrator. Hit Browse, then copy and paste your personal folder file location into the address bar. Select the relevant account, press Open, then Start. This process can take a few minutes but should fix your Outlook search problems.

6. Check the Outlook Indexing Group Policy Setting

This option is a slight long shot; if something has specifically changed this setting, you have other issues. But it is worth exploring every Outlook search-fix option. Unfortunately, this option is only available to Windows 10 Pro users as Home users do not have access to the Windows 10 Local Group Policy EditorHow to Access the Group Policy Editor, Even in Windows Home & Settings to TryHow to Access the Group Policy Editor, Even in Windows Home & Settings to TryGroup Policy is a power tool that lets you access advanced system settings. We'll show you how to access it or set it up in Windows Home and 5+ powerful Group Policies to boot.Read More panel.

Type gpedit in the Start menu search bar and select the best match.

Folder

Now, browse to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Search. Check Default excluded paths and Prevent indexing certain paths for alterations regarding Microsoft Outlook.

If the policy state is set to Not configured, you know this isn’t where your Outlook search problems stem from.

7. Reinstall Outlook

As a last resort, you can uninstall then reinstall Microsoft Outlook. Of course, this is time-consuming and not an ideal solution. But some users report that this last resort finally fixed their Outlook search issues.

The Outlook Search Continues…

These seven fixes should take care of every Outlook search failure. If your Outlook search isn’t working, don’t panic. Just work your way through the list.

In my experience, rebuilding and refreshing the Outlook search index usually gets things moving again. But if not, repairing the Outlook personal file is another reliable option5 Best Tools for Microsoft Outlook5 Best Tools for Microsoft OutlookAre you missing a feature in Microsoft Outlook? Here are Outlook tools that add useful functionality or provide quick access to its settings and features.Read More.

Explore more about: Desktop Email Client, Microsoft Office 2016, Microsoft Outlook, Troubleshooting, Windows 10.

  1. Instead of 'Quick Repair' you can also try 'Online Repair', which also could take a while like reinstalling Office, so perhaps would be fitting in # 7.

Problem

When using Outlook 2013 connected to an Exchange service and using cache mode not all emails are available through Outlook.

Using Outlook Web App (previously know as Outlook Web Access) the missing emails can be seen.

Solution

This problem occurs because the Cached Exchange Mode Sync Slider setting is configured to a value other than All. The default value for the Sync Slider is 12 months.

The following steps detail how to modify the number of months of email to synchronize with your cached mode .ost file:

  1. With Outlook 2013 open
  2. Click on the ‘File’ menu then click on the ‘Account Settings’ button and ‘Account Settings’
  3. In the Account Settings window, select your Exchange mailbox from the list then click on the ‘Change’ button
  4. In the Change Account window, drag the ‘Mail to keep offline’ slider from the default 12 months to the setting you desure, e.g. ‘All’
  5. Click on the ‘Next’ button
  6. Click ‘OK’ when prompted that you have to restart Outlook to complete the configuration change
  7. Click ‘Finish’ and restart Outlook
  8. The missing emails will start synchronising and should appear in less than a minute.