Outlook 2016 App Search Bar

Anonymous
2024-01-29T08:39:51+00:00

One of my clients woke to a new search bar in Outlook 2016 right next to the regular search bar, the new search bar is called "App Search", it is bigger than the regular search bar, pushes it aside to the point that it is too small to work with, and the App Search bar itself doesn't work at all, you can click it but nothing happens, I have tried to find a way to remove it but even uninstalling and reinstalling the whole office suite the App Search bar still remains, she has two computers but only one is affected by it.

I would like some help with it, or at least make a notice of it so Microsoft can fix this bug.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-02-06T16:07:21+00:00

    There is no such option.

    Using Microsoft® Outlook® 2016 MSO (Version 2401 Build 16.0.17231.20194) 64-bit

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-02-06T16:51:07+00:00

    Yes I am having the same issue, it appeared yesterday morning

    It takes up about 65% of the space allocated for the search box > all mailboxes section so search is really squished now

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-02-06T20:33:48+00:00

    Microsoft posted the official workaround at this link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/outlook-unexpectedly-has-an-app-search-bar-above-the-message-list-c1bed629-0d4e-42d4-b66e-877cccb74b47

    Essentially, you roll back to the last version before the App Search box was added and then disable updates. They claim that the next update on 2/13/2024 should fix it. So you should re-enable updates in Office Account after that date and see what happens. If it is still bugged you can revert to the older version again.

    Here's the post in case the link is broken:

    Outlook unexpectedly has an App Search bar above the message list Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016

    Last Updated: February 2, 2024

    ISSUE

    After updating to Version 2402 Build 17231.20182 Outlook now unexpectedly has an App Search bar above the message list. Depending on how you have the Reading Pane set this may crowd the Search box.

    Outlook unexpected app search bar

    STATUS: WORKAROUND

    The Outlook Team has implemented a fix for this issue and currently anticipates it to go out in the February 13th public update.  We will update here if that changes. 

    Workaround 1: 

    If you need to work around the issue to be able to search, you can set the Reading Pane to the bottom by clicking View, Reading Pane, Bottom or to Off. 

    Workaround 2: 

    If you urgently need to remove the App Search Bar you revert to the build before the issue started.   

    Revert the Office M365 Click-to-Run installation to Version 2312 Build 17126.20132.

    To do this:

    1. Exit all Office applications.
    2. Select Start, type cmd in the Search box, right-click Command Prompt(or cmd.exe), and then select Runas administrator.
    3. In the command prompt dialog window, type the following two command lines, pressing Enter after each command line:

    cd %programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun

    officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17126.20132 4. When the repair is done, open Outlook and selectFile > Office Account. 5. Select Update Options and choose Disable Updates. 6. Add an appointment on your calendar for after February 13th to check back to this topic to confirm the issue is fixed. If it is re-enable updates by clicking File> Office Account > Update Options > Enable Updates.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-02-07T05:22:08+00:00

    This does not help for me as i have the same exact case

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-02-07T11:07:11+00:00

    See this post from Jeremy:

    Last Updated: February 2, 2024

    ISSUE

    After updating to Version 2402 Build 17231.20182 Outlook now unexpectedly has an App Search bar above the message list. Depending on how you have the Reading Pane set this may crowd the Search box.

    Outlook unexpected app search bar

    STATUS: WORKAROUND

    The Outlook Team has implemented a fix for this issue and currently anticipates it to go out in the February 13th public update.  We will update here if that changes. 

    Workaround 1: 

    If you need to work around the issue to be able to search, you can set the Reading Pane to the bottom by clicking View, Reading Pane, Bottom or to Off. 

    Workaround 2: 

    If you urgently need to remove the App Search Bar you revert to the build before the issue started.   

    Revert the Office M365 Click-to-Run installation to Version 2312 Build 17126.20132.

    To do this:

    1. Exit all Office applications.
    2. Select Start, type cmd in the Search box, right-click Command Prompt(or cmd.exe), and then select Runas administrator.
    3. In the command prompt dialog window, type the following two command lines, pressing Enter after each command line:

    cd %programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun

    officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17126.20132 4. When the repair is done, open Outlook and selectFile > Office Account. 5. Select Update Options and choose Disable Updates. 6. Add an appointment on your calendar for after February 13th to check back to this topic to confirm the issue is fixed. If it is re-enable updates by clicking File> Office Account > Update Options > Enable Updates.

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    5 people found this answer helpful.
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