• Outlook User
  • Exchange Admin
  • Office 365
  • Outlook Developer
  • Outlook.com
  • Outlook Mac
  • Outlook & iCloud
    • Common Problems
    • Outlook BCM
    • Utilities & Addins

Rebuild Outlook's Instant Search Index

Slipstick Systems

› Outlook › Rebuild Outlook’s Instant Search Index

Last reviewed on December 10, 2015     7 Comments

Applies to: Outlook 2016 (Win), Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007

When Outlook's Instant Search isn't working correctly, you may need to rebuild the Search Index. You can do this from the Windows Control Panel or from within Outlook.

Rebuild the Search Index from within Outlook

To rebuild the Search Index in Outlook 2010 and newer:

  1. Open File, Options, Search. (In Outlook 2007 it's Tools, Options )
  2. Click Indexing Options button
    search options dialog
  3. Click Advanced button
  4. Click Rebuild
    Rebuild the search index

Control Panel

To rebuild the index from the Control Panel:

  1. Open the Control panel and type "search" or "indexing options" in the Search field.
    open the indexing options from control panel
  2. Click on Indexing Options.
  3. After the Indexing Options dialog opens, click Advanced
  4. Click Rebuild.

Find and Delete Index files to Rebuild the Index

While it's generally better to use the Rebuild button when you need to rebuild the index, you can delete the search index files from the hard drive to force Windows to rebuild the index.

Delete all files and folders in these directories:
C:\programdata\microsoft\search\data\temp
C:\programdata\microsoft\search\data\applications\windows

After you reboot, Windows will start to index your Outlook files all over again.

More Information

Because rebuilding the index is a slow process that may use a lot of your system resources, you can use Advanced Find (Ctrl+Shift+F) until you have time to let the index rebuild.

If you have contacts folders in different PSTs and don't want to include them in your search, you can remove them from the search by clicking on the arrow found on All Contacts Items and removing PSTs from the list.

Rebuild Outlook's Instant Search Index was last modified: December 10th, 2015 by Diane Poremsky
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Print

Related Posts:

  • Contacts and Instant Search
  • Searching for Outlook Items in Windows
  • Fixed: Search Broken in Outlook 2016 POP Accounts
  • When you receive and error that Outlook can't find and add-in, the usu
    Find and Delete Extend.dat

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
7 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Russell (@guest_205347)
March 18, 2017 9:47 am
#205347

Thanks for the tip "Find and Delete Index files to Rebuild the Index": this worked great for me! I have Outlook 2016 running on Windows 10. The "Rebuild the Search Index from within Outlook" always resulted in error messages saying that I didn't have sufficient priviledges for the folders (or something of the sort). Couldn't make it work and the Outlook search just didn't retrieve the correct results, eventhough the status said 0 elements remaining to index.
I needed to abort some "Microsoft Windows Search" processes via Task Manager, since they were locking the files / folders. But after successfully removing the files and rebooting, Windows / Outlook begain reindexing everything.

0
0
Reply
Peter Watson (@guest_204046)
January 21, 2017 8:05 pm
#204046

Office won't delete the indexed items if I use Rebuild.
Tried what you suggest above - but Windows won't let me delete most of the files - says the file is open in Windows Search
Tried stopping Windows Search but it simply restarts itself.

Any suggestions?

0
0
Reply
Keith Peck (@guest_205759)
Reply to  Peter Watson
April 6, 2017 10:54 am
#205759

Run services.msc (as an admin) then disable the Windows Search service > right-click the service, choose Properties, Startup type = disabled, Apply, OK; and then RESTART your computer. You should then be able to delete all of the files in C:programdatamicrosoftsearchdataapplicationswindows

With the Windows Search service disabled the TEMP folder will be empty.

Go back and enable the Windows Search service and reboot again to allow the index to rebuild.

0
0
Reply
Ed Hansberry (@guest_195859)
January 7, 2016 6:19 pm
#195859

Have you had any experience simply adding a PST file to Outlook 2016 via the File|Open menu? Outlook opens it just fine, but will not, under any circumstances, start indexing it.

I haven't yet told Outlook to rebuild my index as that would also destroy my existing index for my main inbox.

I never had 2013, but with 2010 and earlier, just opening a PST file would start the indexing process for that file.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Ed Hansberry
January 25, 2016 11:48 pm
#196113

Is it on the location to search list? click in the search field, then go to Search Tools > Locations to search.

0
0
Reply
Kaspero Dookelius (@guest_195538)
December 19, 2015 11:42 am
#195538

Great information. How do you this in the Mac Outlook 2016 product?

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Kaspero Dookelius
January 26, 2016 12:53 am
#196114

I believe it might use the spotlight search but i have no idea how to reset it. Sorry.

0
0
Reply

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

Latest EMO: Vol. 28 Issue 11

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?

Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook






Our Sponsors

CompanionLink
ReliefJet
  • Popular
  • Latest
  • WeekMonthAll
  • Adjusting Outlook's Zoom Setting in Email
  • How to Remove the Primary Account from Outlook
  • Cannot add Recipients in To, CC, BCC fields on MacOS
  • Move an Outlook Personal Folders .pst File
  • Save Sent Items in Shared Mailbox Sent Items folder
  • Create rules that apply to an entire domain
  • Outlook's Left Navigation Bar
  • Use PowerShell to get a list of Distribution Group members
  • View Shared Calendar Category Colors
  • Remove a password from an Outlook *.pst File
  • Cannot add Recipients in To, CC, BCC fields on MacOS
  • Change Appointment Reminder Sounds
  • Messages appear duplicated in message list
  • Reset the New Outlook Profile
  • Delete Old Calendar Events using VBA
  • Use PowerShell or VBA to get Outlook folder creation date
  • Outlook's Left Navigation Bar
  • Contact's Display Bug
  • Use PowerShell to get a list of Distribution Group members
  • Edit Outlook’s Attach File list
Ajax spinner

Newest Code Samples

Delete Old Calendar Events using VBA

Use PowerShell or VBA to get Outlook folder creation date

Rename Outlook Attachments

Format Images in Outlook Email

Set Outlook Online or Offline using VBScript or PowerShell

List snoozed reminders and snooze-times

Search your Contacts using PowerShell

Filter mail when you are not the only recipient

Add Contact Information to a Task

Process Mail that was Auto Forwarded by a Rule

Recent Bugs List

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

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

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.

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

Other Microsoft 365 applications and services




Windows 10 Issues

  • iCloud, Outlook 2016, and Windows 10
  • Outlook Links Won’t Open In Windows 10
  • Outlook can’t send mail in Windows 10: error Ox800CCC13
  • Missing Outlook data files after upgrading Windows?

Outlook Top Issues

  • The Windows Store Outlook App
  • The Signature or Stationery and Fonts button doesn’t work
  • Outlook’s New Account Setup Wizard
  • Outlook 2016: No BCM
  • Exchange Account Set-up Missing in Outlook 2016

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

Contact Tools

Data Entry and Updating

Duplicate Checkers

Phone Number Updates

Contact Management Tools

Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

Make a donation

Calendar Tools

Schedule Management

Calendar Printing Tools

Calendar Reminder Tools

Calendar Dates & Data

Time and Billing Tools

Meeting Productivity Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Mail Tools

Sending and Retrieval Tools

Mass Mail Tools

Compose Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Mail Tools for Outlook

Online Services

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

Outlook Suggestion Box (UserVoice)

Slipstick Support Services

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 | Advertise | Slipstick Forums
Submit New or Updated Outlook and Exchange Server Utilities

Send comments using our Feedback page
Copyright © 2023 Slipstick Systems. All rights reserved.
Slipstick Systems is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.

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