• Outlook User
  • New Outlook app
  • Outlook.com
  • Outlook Mac
  • Outlook & iCloud
  • Developer
  • Microsoft 365 Admin
    • Common Problems
    • Microsoft 365
    • Outlook BCM
    • Utilities & Addins

Advanced Find is not going away just yet

Slipstick Systems

› Outlook › Advanced Find is not going away just yet

Last reviewed on September 19, 2019     3 Comments

Applies to: Outlook (classic)

Update September 18 2017: As of Insider Fast build 1710 (16.0.8530.1000), Advanced find is back on the Search Tools menu. This may be a temporary reprieve, until the new search tools are ready (which is how it should have been to begin with.) This includes Expanded Find Pane and More fields.

Users with the Insider builds were the first to notice that Advanced Find was missing. This wasn’t a bug; it was intentionally removed in preparation for improvements in search coming later this year. Based on data available to Microsoft (from people who agreed to share usage data with Microsoft), a very small percentage of users used Advanced Find. (Honestly, which is used more, Publisher or Advanced Find?)

On September 15, 2017, Microsoft released an update that removed it from Current Channel users. The outcry was loud enough that Microsoft released an update enabling it on September 18. Yes, they do listen!

While this is true, those who use Advanced Find rely heavily on it and it does one thing Instant Search can’t do: partial word searches. Plus, when Query Builder is enabled, users can easily create AND/OR queries.

In addition to removing Advanced find, Microsoft also removed the Expanded Find Pane and the fields from the More button, as well as Recent Search history.
commands removed from outlook 2016

Instant Search and Search folders can replace some of the functionality of Advanced Find (except for partial word searches). For better results, refine your Instant Search queries using logical operators AND, NOT, OR, <, >, =. For more information, see "Outlook Instant Search Queries"

[poll id="2"]

You can voice your displeasure over this change in this Outlook Uservoice thread: Bring back Advanced Find to Outlook Search Tools.

Advanced Find is not going away just yet was last modified: September 19th, 2019 by Diane Poremsky

Related Posts:

  • Instant Search can handle most searches, Advanced find can search more
    Searching Outlook's Calendar
  • Fields are Incorrect on the Instant Search More Button
  • Find All Unread Messages
  • Searching for Contacts in Multiple Accounts

About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book. She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

Subscribe
Notify of
3 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Ian
October 5, 2017 7:59 pm

How does one change his or her vote?

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Ian
October 5, 2017 8:30 pm

I don't think you can. You can vote again using a different browser or a private browser. (Yeah, the results are that accurate! :))

1
-1
Reply
Bob
September 16, 2017 5:42 am

Imagine if you bought a car that came with a CD player. Then, one day while driving to work you notice that your CD player is gone; replaced with an auxiliary input jack. You call the dealership and they say "Well, the OEM found that only a very small percentage of users were actually using the CD player, so they changed it. Excuse me? I BOUGHT something with a certain set of features and I EXPECT those features to remain for the entire time I own the product. Just because it's not a physical product, doesn't mean the maker can change it whenever they want. Where does it stop? What if I have a pacemaker with certain features that are saving my life, but those features are "rarely used"? Are they going to give me an over-the-air update to remove those features too? If a company wants to change, modify, or improve their product they are free to do so. I welcome innovation! But changes should only impact future customers, not existing ones, unless those existing customers explicitly opt-in to the changes.

5
-1
Reply

Visit Slipstick Forums.
What's New at Slipstick.com

Latest EMO: Exchange Messaging Outlook 2026 Archives

Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook






Support Services

Do you need help setting up Outlook, moving your email to a new computer, migrating or configuring Office 365, or just need some one-on-one assistance?

Our Sponsors

CompanionLink
ReliefJet
  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Week Month All
  • Use Classic Outlook, not New Outlook
  • How to Remove the Primary Account from Outlook
  • Reset the New Outlook Profile
  • Disable "Always ask before opening" Dialog
  • How to Hide or Delete Outlook's Default Folders
  • Removing Suggested Accounts in New Outlook
  • Change Outlook's Programmatic Access Options
  • Adjusting Outlook's Zoom Setting in Email
  • Move an Outlook Personal Folders .pst File
  • OUTLOOK.EXE continues running after you exit Outlook
  • Opt out of Microsoft 365 Companion Apps
  • Mail Templates in Outlook for Windows (and Web)
  • Urban legend: Microsoft Deletes Old Outlook.com Messages
  • Buttons in the New Message Notifications
  • Move Deleted Items to Another Folder Automatically
  • Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell
  • Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook
  • Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail
  • Import EML Files into New Outlook
  • Opening PST files in New Outlook
Ajax spinner

Recent Bugs List

Microsoft keeps a running list of issues affecting recently released updates at Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in classic Outlook (Windows).

For new Outlook for Windows: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in new Outlook for Windows .

Outlook for Mac Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Outlook for Mac

Outlook.com Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com

Office Update History

Update history for supported Office versions is at Update history for Office

Outlook Suggestions and Feedback

Outlook Feedback covers Outlook as an email client, including Outlook Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows clients, as well as the browser extension (PWA) and Outlook on the web.

Outlook (new) Feedback. Use this for feedback and suggestions for Outlook (new).

Use Outlook.com Feedback for suggestions or feedback about Outlook.com accounts.

Other Microsoft 365 applications and services




New Outlook Articles

Opt out of Microsoft 365 Companion Apps

Mail Templates in Outlook for Windows (and Web)

Urban legend: Microsoft Deletes Old Outlook.com Messages

Buttons in the New Message Notifications

Move Deleted Items to Another Folder Automatically

Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell

Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook

Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail

Import EML Files into New Outlook

Opening PST files in New Outlook

Newest Code Samples

Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell

Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook

Insert Word Document into Email using VBA

Warn Before Deleting a Contact

Use PowerShell to Delete Attachments

Remove RE:, FWD:, and Other Prefixes from Subject Line

Change the Mailing Address Using PowerShell

Categorize @Mentioned Messages

Send an Email When You Open Outlook

Delete Old Calendar Events using VBA

Repair PST

Convert an OST to PST

Repair damaged PST file

Repair large PST File

Remove password from PST

Merge Two Data Files

Sync & Share Outlook Data

  • Share Calendar & Contacts
  • Synchronize two computers
  • Sync Calendar and Contacts Using Outlook.com
  • Sync Outlook & Android Devices
  • Sync Google Calendar with Outlook
  • Access Folders in Other Users Mailboxes

Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

Make a donation

Mail Tools

Sending and Retrieval Tools

Mass Mail Tools

Compose Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Mail Tools for Outlook

Online Services

Calendar Tools

Schedule Management

Calendar Printing Tools

Calendar Reminder Tools

Calendar Dates & Data

Time and Billing Tools

Meeting Productivity Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Productivity

Productivity Tools

Automatic Message Processing Tools

Special Function Automatic Processing Tools

Housekeeping and Message Management

Task Tools

Project and Business Management Tools

Choosing the Folder to Save a Sent Message In

Run Rules on messages after reading

Help & Suggestions

Submit Outlook Feature Requests

Slipstick Support Services

Buy Microsoft 365 Office Software and Services

Visit Slipstick Forums.

What's New at Slipstick.com

Home | Outlook User | Exchange Administrator | Office 365 | Outlook.com | Outlook Developer
Outlook for Mac | Common Problems | Utilities & Addins | Tutorials
Outlook & iCloud Issues | Outlook Apps
EMO Archives | About Slipstick | Slipstick Forums
Submit New or Updated Outlook and Exchange Server Utilities

Send comments using our Feedback page
Copyright © 2026 Slipstick Systems. All rights reserved.
Slipstick Systems is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.

:wpds_smile::wpds_grin::wpds_wink::wpds_mrgreen::wpds_neutral::wpds_twisted::wpds_arrow::wpds_shock::wpds_unamused::wpds_cool::wpds_evil::wpds_oops::wpds_razz::wpds_roll::wpds_cry::wpds_eek::wpds_lol::wpds_mad::wpds_sad::wpds_exclamation::wpds_question::wpds_idea::wpds_hmm::wpds_beg::wpds_whew::wpds_chuckle::wpds_silly::wpds_envy::wpds_shutmouth:
wpDiscuz

Sign up for Exchange Messaging Outlook

Our weekly Outlook & Exchange newsletter (bi-weekly during the summer)






Please note: If you subscribed to Exchange Messaging Outlook before August 2019, please re-subscribe.

Never see this message again.

You are going to send email to

Move Comment