How to search for emails by category on new Outlook app

Anonymous
2023-11-14T20:56:23+00:00

In the older version of the Outlook app on desktop, I was able to easily search for emails with a specific category. However with the new Outlook app, I'm not sure how to do that anymore. I understand that you can click on an email with a category to search for emails with the same category, but I find this rather inconvenient. Is there an easier workaround that's more similar to how the old Outlook app worked?

Outlook | Windows | New Outlook for Windows | For home

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Anonymous
2023-11-15T03:00:40+00:00

Dear Yongj_363,

Good day! Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community. We are happy to assist you.

Based on your description, you are asking about searching for emails by category on the new Outlook app. Here's how:

  1. Click on the search bar at the top of the Outlook app.
  2. Type in the name of the category you want to search for.
  3. Choose the category option when it comes out.
  4. The search results will show all emails that have been categorized with the category you searched for.

I did an sample search, please refer to the information below:

  1. I categorized my emails in my inbox as custom 123, default Blue, Green and Purple.

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  1. When I search emails with one specific category, I just search the name of this category.

For123: I typed 123, the option would come out for searching 123 category (If the option does not show up, add a space).

.

.

For Blue category: I typed Blue and I got the option for Blue category.

.

.

I hope the information above can be useful for you. If there is any update or I misunderstand you, please feel free to let me know. I will continue to assist you. Your understanding and co-operation are highly appreciated.

Thanks for your precious time. Have a nice day.

Sincerely,

Sherry | Microsoft Community Moderator

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-06-04T10:49:19+00:00

    Hi,

    This was working for me up until last week.

    Now when I search, the category is no longer listed at the bottom of the search list.

    Is there a way to get this back?

    ...same, disappeared for me too. A painful workaround is to search for Category:"categoryname" but would prefer that categories are restored to the search results

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-06-04T11:25:21+00:00

    Slightly less painful way is click in the search bar, then click on a category tag in the inbox (or any box) summary pane.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-06-04T14:37:36+00:00

    This isn't working for me. When I type in my category name nothing comes up except to search for that term. When I type in "category=xxx" I get a couple of emails all with that category name, but if I click on the category icon in front of the subject I get the full search results for that category.

    This could use some improvement. I should also be a filter option in the search drop down.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-06-05T00:59:42+00:00

    Thanks Phil,

    This is a good work around for now.

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