The Outlook for MAC search 'No Results' problem, can appear after updating MAC OS or Office for MAC from one release to another or can appear suddenly without an obvious reason. In such cases the Outlook Search function in Outlook 2011 for MAC or in Outlook 2016 for MAC does not work and returns 'No Results' when you try to find something in Outlook mail program that you know it exists. Despite the Outlook search problem, SPOTLIGHT is working correctly and displays results.
Mar 12, 2018 - Steps to Fix Email Search Not Working In Outlook for Mac Issue. When you use Outlook 2016 for your Mac, individual will get the message as. Fix: Outlook for Mac’s Search Not Working If the issue is with your Computer or a Laptop you should try using Reimage Plus which can scan the repositories and replace corrupt and missing files. This works in most cases, where the issue is originated due to a system corruption.
This tutorial contains instructions to resolve the Outlook for MAC Search problems (Search returns 'No Results'), in Outlook for Mac 2016 or Outlook for Mac 2011.
How to fix: Outlook MAC Search Returns 'No Results' in Outlook 2011 or 2016 for MAC *
* Suggestion for Outlook 2016 users: We've identified that the most common root for this problem is the need to re-index Outlook's Search Database, so we recommend to try method-6 first to see if it solves the problem.
Method 1. Verify that the Outlook Profile/Identity is stored at the default location.
First of all, make sure that the Outlook 2016 for Mac Profile or the Outlook for Mac 2011 Identity data is stored under the correct default location and has no special characters on its name. If the Profile or Identity name contains a special character, then follow the steps in this Microsoft Article to change the name:
- Outlook 2016 for Mac default Profile Location:
- ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook/Outlook 15 Profiles/Main Profile
- Outlook for Mac 2011 default Identity location:
- /Users/username/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2011 Identities/Main Identity
Method 2. Install all Microsoft Updates.
1. Open any Office application such as Word, Excel, or Outlook.
2. On the top menu, go to Help > Check for Updates. *
2. On the top menu, go to Help > Check for Updates. *
* Important: If you don't see the 'Check for Updates' option on the Help menu, then download and run the latest version of the Microsoft Auto-Update tool from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3133674. (After running the tool, the 'Check for Updates' option will be available).
Method 3. Run the Outlook 2016 Search Troubleshooter.
The next method to fix the 'No Results' search issue in Outlook 2016 for MAC, is to run the Microsoft Outlook Search Troubleshooter.
1. Close Outlook 2016 for MAC.
2. Run the Outlook 2016 Search Repair Troubleshooter (source-2) tool from MS:
2. Run the Outlook 2016 Search Repair Troubleshooter (source-2) tool from MS:
Method 4. Move Messages to another Outlook folder.
1. Open Outlook.
2. Create a new folder inside Outlook (e.g. Inbox-New)
3. Select and move all messages to the new created folder.
4. When the moving is done, move back your messages to the original folder. (This process will force Outlook to re-index the emails and they start to appear in the results).
5. Once you done delete the temporary folder.
2. Create a new folder inside Outlook (e.g. Inbox-New)
3. Select and move all messages to the new created folder.
4. When the moving is done, move back your messages to the original folder. (This process will force Outlook to re-index the emails and they start to appear in the results).
5. Once you done delete the temporary folder.
Method 5. Re-Index Hard Drive in Spotlight.
1. Open the System Preferences and click on Spotlight.
2. Make sure that Mail Messages is checked under the Search Results tab
3. Then click the Privacy tab.
4. Make Sure that the Outlook Profile (or Identity) folder or one of its parent folders is not added to the Privacy tab. (If so, then remove them, skip the rest steps and try to find something using the Outlook search).
5. Then Drag and drop the hard drive icon from the desktop into Spotlight. (This will remove the current index)
6. Finally highlight the hard drive you just added and click the minus button to remove it. (This will force Spotlight to create a new index)
7. Wait until Spotlight indexing your drive.
8. After indexing restart your computer.
9. Try to use the Outlook search.
10. If the problem persists:
2. Make sure that Mail Messages is checked under the Search Results tab
3. Then click the Privacy tab.
4. Make Sure that the Outlook Profile (or Identity) folder or one of its parent folders is not added to the Privacy tab. (If so, then remove them, skip the rest steps and try to find something using the Outlook search).
5. Then Drag and drop the hard drive icon from the desktop into Spotlight. (This will remove the current index)
6. Finally highlight the hard drive you just added and click the minus button to remove it. (This will force Spotlight to create a new index)
7. Wait until Spotlight indexing your drive.
8. After indexing restart your computer.
9. Try to use the Outlook search.
10. If the problem persists:
a. Delete (or move to desktop and delete them later) the following files from the User’s Library/Preferences folder:
- com.microsoft.Outlook.SyncServicesPreferences.plist
- com.microsoft.SyncservicesAgent.plist
b. Then delete (or move to desktop) from the User's Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office 2011 folder, the file OfficeSync Prefs
c. Restart your MAC.
d. Try to perform a search in Outlook.
c. Restart your MAC.
d. Try to perform a search in Outlook.
Method 6. Re-index the Outlook for MAC Search Database.
Outlook for Mac uses OS X Spotlight to search your mailbox. If the Spotlight Index is corrupted then the Outlook search may display 'No results'. At this case you have to re-indexing the Outlook 2016 for Mac search database. To do that:
- Outlook 2016 for MAC:
– To re-index the Search database in Outlook for Mac 2016
1. Restart Mac.
2. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
3. Type 'mdimport -L'.
2. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
3. Type 'mdimport -L'.
- IMPORTANT: If you see more than one instance of 'Microsoft Outlook Spotlight Importer.mdimporter' delete the Outlook application that you are NOT using, empty it from the Trash, again restart your Mac, and go back to Step 1.
4. Without closing the 'terminal' window, open Outlook and try the search function. If you receive results when searching then the problem is resolved. If the Outlook search displays again 'No results' then continue below:
5. In Terminal, re-index your Outlook database using the following command and substituting your own user name for <user_name>:
mdimport -g '/Applications/Microsoft Outlook.app/Contents/Library/Spotlight/Microsoft Outlook Spotlight Importer.mdimporter' -d1 /Users/<user_name>/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook/Outlook 15 Profiles/Main Profile
- Note in the command above, the path after '-g' is the default path where your Outlook is installed. The path after '-d1' is the default path to your profile. You'll have to substitute your actual paths if you have renamed your profile or installed Outlook in a different location.
6. Re-indexing will take some time to complete. Once the process is complete, quit and re-launch Outlook. *
* TIP: Here is an alternative method to re-build the Outlook 2016 Database in MAC:
1. Go to the following location:
- ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook/Outlook 15 Profiles/Main Profile/Data
2. Move the Outlook.sqllite file to your desktop. (This will force Outlook to detect an issue and to do an auto rebuild).
3. When the Rebuild is completed, open Outlook and perform a search.
4. If the search is working then delete the 'Outlook.sqllite' file from your desktop.
3. When the Rebuild is completed, open Outlook and perform a search.
4. If the search is working then delete the 'Outlook.sqllite' file from your desktop.
- Outlook for Mac 2011:
– To re-index the Search database in Outlook for Mac 2011
1. Hold down the Option key, and then click the Outlook for Mac 2011 icon. (or go to Applications > Microsoft Office 2011 > Office > Microsoft Database Utility).
2. Highlight your Identity Click Rebuild.
2. Highlight your Identity Click Rebuild.
Method 7. FIX Spotlight Permissions & Rebuild Spotlight Index using Terminal.
The final method to resolve the 'No Results' issue when performing a search in Outlook 2011 or 2016 for Mac, is to fix the Spotlight permissions in Outlook 2011 database and then to rebuild the Spotlight database, by following the steps below:
- Outlook for Mac 2016
1. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
2. Give the following commands in order (Press Enter after typing each command)
2. Give the following commands in order (Press Enter after typing each command)
- sudo mdutil -i off /
- sudo rm -rf /.Spotlight*
- sudo rm -rf /.metadata_never_index
3. Reboot your computer.
4. After restart, open Terminal again and type these commands in order:
4. After restart, open Terminal again and type these commands in order:
- sudo mdutil -i on /
- sudo mdutil -E
3. Now wait until Spotlight reindex your entire drive. You can monitor the process if you click at Spotlight Search icon at the upper-right corner. When the indexing is completed (100%) then proceed and try the Outlook search.
- Outlook for Mac 2011.
1. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
2. Give the following commands in order (Press Enter after typing each command)
2. Give the following commands in order (Press Enter after typing each command)
- sudo chown root:wheel '/Applications/Microsoft Office 2011'
- sudo chmod 755 '/Applications/Microsoft Office 2011'
- sudo mdutil -a -i off
- sudo rm -rf /.Spotlight-V100
- sudo mdutil -a -i on
3. Now wait until Spotlight reindex your entire drive. You can monitor the process if you click at Spotlight Search icon at the upper-right corner. When the indexing is completed (100%) then proceed and try the Outlook search.
Method 8. Completely Remove and Reinstall Office for MAC.
1. Backup Outlook Data (copy Outlook Identity or Profile to another location. e.g. your Desktop).
2. Completely uninstall Office 2011 MAC or Uninstall Office 2016 for MAC.
3. Re-install Office for MAC.
4. Open Outlook for MAC and use the Import command to import the Outlook data from the backup location.
5. Follow the steps is method-6 above to reindex the Outlook search database.
6. Try the Outlook search function.
Did it work for you?
Please leave a comment in the comment section below or even better: like and share this blog post in the social networks to help spread the word about this solution.
Please leave a comment in the comment section below or even better: like and share this blog post in the social networks to help spread the word about this solution.
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Last updated: March, 2019
Outlook for Mac features and add-ins issues
Font appears smaller in a composing window of Outlook 2016 for Mac
Last updated: Sep 15, 2017
ISSUE
The Zoom setting can be found in a new email message window by selecting the Options tab and clicking the Zoom button on the Ribbon.
If the zoom setting is altered on a new message, the altered setting remains until changed back. Zoom does not change the actual font size, it simply zooms in or out on the composing window text, (impacts the composing mode window of all new messages/replies). Zoom does not affect the reading pane or received messages - those will show the actual font size.
Once the setting is applied in the Outlook profile, it will retain for all future messages until it is changed in the message Options menu.
This can cause a perceived smaller font if the zoom is set to less than 100%. For example, if the zoom is set at 75%, the font of newly composed (or reply/forward) appears to be smaller, compared to the reading pane or an open received message (not in composing mode).
STATUS
This behavior is by design. Please check your zoom settings if you run into this issue and adjust as appropriate.
Unable to attach files over 25M in Outlook for Mac using IMAP or POP [WORKAROUND]
Last updated: August, 2017
ISSUE
When you send an email with an attachment larger than 25 MB, you get an error message and the mail doesn’t go through.
STATUS: Workaround
We’re working to resolve this issue. In the meantime, please use your Web mail when sending attachments that are larger than 25 MB.
Unable to directly transfer Entourage profiles to Outlook for Mac 2016 [WORKAROUND]
Last updated: August, 2017
ISSUE
It’s not possible to transfer Entourage profiles when you migrate to Outlook for Mac 2016.
STATUS: Workaround
To transfer Entourage profiles to Outlook for Mac 2016, import profiles data into Outlook 2011 first, and then import Outlook 2011 profile data to Outlook for Mac 2016.
See these articles for more information: Import information into Outlook for Mac 2011 and Import email messages, contacts, and other items into Outlook 2016 for Mac.
Unable to add recipients to Safe Senders list in Outlook [WORKAROUND]
Last updated: August, 2017
ISSUE
You are unable to add a recipient to Safe Senders in Outlook 2016 for Mac. Outlook currently only allows adding a recipient to Blocked Sender list. Emails from the blocked sender will be moved to the Junk E-Mail folder.
STATUS: Workaround
To work around this issue, please use the Web mail server side to manage the settings.
See this article for more information.
Cannot Import Apple Contacts into Outlook 2016 for mac [WORKAROUND]
Last updated: August, 2017
ISSUE
Cannot Import Apple Contacts into Outlook 2016 for mac.
STATUS: Workaround
- Drag the contacts out of your Mac address book and drop onto your desktop.This creates a single .vcf file on your desktop.
- Right-click on the file and choose Open With > Microsoft Outlook.
- A new contact window opens in Outlook which is the first address in your .vcf file.
- Click Save in the contact window. Outlook will save it, and then begins populating the rest of your contacts.
You can also drag the .vcf file directly to an Outlook contact folder. The contacts will be saved in Outlook automatically.
Known issues, changed functionality, and blocked or discontinued features
Automated troubleshooting tools
Use the following tools to resolve various Outlook for Mac issues. See this page for more information and learn how to install the tools: Outlook for Mac support tools.
Note: This tool doesn’t work on macOS 10.14 and later. Check Outlook for Mac support tools article here for more details. | This tool repairs search issues in Outlook for Mac. For example, when search returns no results for items that do exist in your mailbox, or you get older data when you have newer items. |
This tool resets customization that you've made to Outlook from the Outlook menu > Preferences. It also restores Outlook window size and position settings. | |
This tool lets you choose Outlook for Mac as your default mail application. Then Outlook opens a new email whenever you click on a mailto: link in an email or website. | |
This tool lets you reset recent addresses that Outlook has stored, and delete recent addresses all at once, instead of one at a time. |
Need more help?
To report issues or provide feedback, simply go to Help > Contact Support in Outlook for Mac. For more information, see Contact Support in Outlook 2016 for Mac. |
Have a feature request?
To suggest new features in Outlook for Mac, go to Help > Suggest a Feature. Or, share your thoughts on the Outlook UserVoice site. We’re listening. |