Outlook Search/Indexing Keeps Getting Broken

Something to check that I saw on another case today.

In Outlook click File, Account Settings, Account Settings.  Click Data Files.  Locate the Data File for your PST file and double click to see the properties.  Where it shows the File Name is the format similar to C:\Users\username\Documents\Outlook Files\filename.pst.  In the case we had today the path was something like  "\?\C:\documents\test.pst".  

If you see it with the wrong path you can click the Email tab and click the POP account and then click Change Folder, New Outlook Data File, and choose the original PST it is using to update the path.  

Aside from this issue I am not seeing other reports yet.  It would be helpful if the above does not apply to try creating a new Outlook profile and see if the POP account search will work in that profile.

Hi Gabriel,

I guess it would also have been helpful to you to let you know that I have been aware of this problem with Outlook for some time.  I cannot tell you the build when the problem first showed up, but after a week or two without, I searched Microsoft Support and became aware it was a known issue.  I began troubleshooting at that time.  I have rebuilt the index as well as ran scanpst against the file multiple times .  It was only when I learned I could go back to older versions of Office as some users suggested that I could get the problem to disappear.

So in answer to your question. I am aware of the basic troubleshooting steps to take, and yes, indexing is complete.  When I put something in the search field (I use my name to ensure I should get results), I immediately get "No Results".  However, as I said earlier today I downgraded to1702 (7870.2031), searched, and immediately got results - this without rebuilding the index or taking any other steps.  Allowing the pst file to have contents indexed in Advanced Properties didn't change anything.

I am happy to help you with this problem.  Let me know if you would like me to try a different version of office.  It's not time consuming for me to do, and may help you determine in which version the code was broken.  I will build a new profile if I have to, but since some versions of the software work - it seems to me the problem is with the software, not the setup or date file.

-tim

Thanks for all the extra details.  This is helpful and I will do some more testing to see if I can cause a repro.

Just to make sure the status in Outlook click in the Inbox of the POP account, then click into the Search box, click Search Tools, and click Indexing Status.  Does it show if there are any items left to be indexed?  If it still shows any to be indexed we need to wait for that to finish.

If Indexing is complete there was one workaround that worked for some when we first saw the issue.  Open Windows Explorer and go to the path where the POP PST file is, C:\Users\user account\Documents\Outlook Files.  Locate the PST.  Right click on it, click Properties, click Advanced.  Click the check box to "Allow this file to have contents indexed...".  Click OK, OK.  Restart Outlook and periodically check if this helped.

Hi Gabriel,

Thank you for your reply.  I am on 1704 (8067.2115 CTR).  I was on 8067.2020 as I noted when I posted on May 9.  My Outlook profile is as follows:

My default email and outlook file is POP3 PST - on which search currently is NOT working

I have a Microsoft exchange account OST on which search is working

I have 3 PST accounts that are used as storage on which search is working

I have a Hotmail exchange account OST on which search is working

My problem is only on the POP3/PST account.

I didn't have the time to deal with creating a new profile right now, but will try it later if you still want me to.  Instead, I downgraded to 1702 (7870.2031) which you referenced as correcting the problem, and voila, search began working as expected.

I then updated back to 1704 (8067.2115) using Update Now, and it stopped working again.  Is this sufficient for what you need, or do you still want me to try creating a new profile?

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks again!

-tim

TL,

In Outlook click File, Office Account and let me know the version listed there under Subscription Product.

What specifically is search not working on?  Is it a POP account or a PST file you created to move data to?  

Can you please try creating a new Outlook Profile and see if the problem still repros, https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Create-an-Outlook-profile-F544C1BA-3352-4B3B-BE0B-8D42A540459D.  

I worked with the product team on the original bug and the repro machine they used to debug it is running the 8067.2103 build and I am not seeing the issue.  Once I know what build you are on I will try changing to that build and double check.  

Edit to add this link which was the original issue, https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Outlook-search-stops-working-after-updating-to-build-7870-2020-and-higher-0bcf0b06-320d-40c3-8cf0-7e3df90793ed?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US.