MS Outlook offers a variety of features to help manage emails and other items. Instant Search is one such useful feature in MS Outlook that helps find specific email items based on keywords or phrases, in no time. Sometimes, an issue arises when the Instant Search box is missing or not visible in Outlook. It may also happen that the Instant Search is visible but it failed to find any relevant matches.
In this article, we’ll discuss the solutions to fix the instant search box is missing issue in Outlook. But before moving to the solutions, let’s understand the causes that may result in this issue.
Causes of Instant Search Box is Missing in Outlook
When the Outlook email client is upgraded to another version, sometimes the indexing is not updated along with the new version. When the indexing is not updated properly, the Outlook application cannot locate the search string. Another reason for the missing Outlook search bar issue could be corrupted Outlook data files (PST). In addition, problematic or faulty add-ins can also cause issues with the search bar.
Solutions to Fix the Instant Search Box is Missing in Outlook Issue
First, you can try the following simple workarounds to see if they can help resolve the issue:
· Restart the Outlook application
· Reboot the system
· Close the Outlook application via Task Manager
· Make a relevant search with narrow details
· Disable anti-virus, freeware, and any unnecessary third-party programs
· Downgrade the recently upgraded Outlook version
If the Instant Search problem is not fixed even after performing the above actions, follow the solutions mentioned below to fix the issue.
Method 1: Rebuild the Outlook Index
You may encounter the search bar is missing issue in Outlook, if the indexing is not updated properly. You can rebuild the Outlook Index to resolve the issue. Follow these steps:
· Step 1 — Open Outlook and go to File > Options > Search.
· Step 2 — Click on Indexing Options.
· Step 3 — Click Microsoft Outlook and click the Advanced option.
· Step 4 — Click Rebuild and then click OK to initiate the rebuilding process.
· Step 5 — Once the index rebuilding process is complete, check the working of the search function.
Method 2: Add Search Box Manually
You can also add the search box in Outlook manually. Follow the below-mentioned steps:
· Step 1 — Open Outlook and right-click on the Home tab.
· Step 2 — Choose Customize the Ribbon from the menu.
· Step 3 — Expand the dropdown menu, under Choose Commands from and select All Tabs to view the tabs.
· Step 4 — Select the Search option in the first column. Switch to the second column and choose the tab under which you want to place the Search option.
· Step 5 — Click on the Add button and then click OK.
The Search bar will be displayed on the ribbon.
Method 3: Change Windows Registry
To fix the Instant Search box is missing issue in Outlook, you can check and modify the entries in Windows Registry. Follow the below-mentioned steps:
· Step 1 — Press Windows+R to open the Run utility.
· Step 2 — Type regedit and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
· Step 3 — Press Ctrl+F to open the search menu.
· Step 4 — Copy and paste the following key.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search
· Step 5 — In the right-side panel, right-click on Windows Search and select New Dword (32-bit).
· Step 6 — Rename the Dword as PreventIndexingOutlook and assign value 0 to it.
· Step 7 — Click OK and restart the system.
Method 4: Update Outlook
The Search Box missing issue can also occur if the Outlook program is outdated. You can resolve the issue by updating the Outlook application. Here is the process to update the Outlook.
· Step 1 — Open Outlook and go to the File tab.
· Step 2 — Expand Update Options and click Update Now in the context menu.
All the pending updates will be installed. Then, check if it resolves the search issue in Outlook.
Method 5: Disable Add-ins
Faulty or conflicting third-party add-ins can also create issues in Outlook, including the Instant Search Box is missing issue. Follow the below-mentioned steps to disable the add-ins.
· Step 1 — Open Outlook and go to File > Options > Add-ins.
· Step 2 — In Manage list, select COM Add-ins and click Go.
· Step 3 — Uncheck the list of add-ins you want to disable and click OK.
· Step 4 — Restart Outlook.
Method 6: Repair MS Office Installation
Problems with Outlook or MS Office installation can also create issues, such as search box is missing. In such a case, you can repair the MS Office program by following the below steps:
· Step 1 — Go to Control Panel > Programs.
· Step 2 — Open Programs and Features.
· Step 3 — Click on the current version of Microsoft Office.
· Step 4 — Click the Change button.
· Step 5 — Click Repair and then click Continue to repair the MS Office installation.
Method 7: Repair Corrupt PST File
Corruption in the Outlook data file (PST) can also lead to the Instant Search Box is missing issue in Outlook. To fix corruption in PST file, you can use SCANPST.EXE. It is an inbox repair tool provided by Outlook to repair corrupt and damaged PST file. To use this tool, follow the below-mentioned steps:
· Step 1 — Open File Explorer and go to Program Files/Microsoft Office/Office16.
The location of scanpst.exe may vary based on your Outlook version.
· Step 2 — Double-click on SCANPST.EXE.
· Step 3 — Click Browse and choose the corrupted Outlook PST file.
· Step 4 — Click Start and initiate the scanning process of the PST file.
· Step 5 — If the errors are detected, click Repair and then click OK.
· Step 6 — Restart Outlook to check if the search box error is resolved.
Note: The tool supports PST files only up to 2 GB and does not support encrypted PST files.
If the problem is still not resolved, you can use an advanced PST repair tool, such as Stellar Repair for Outlook to fix the corrupted or damaged PST file. It can fix encrypted, oversized, and severely corrupted PST files. It can repair your PST file and save the repaired data in a new PST file and in multiple formats, such as HTML, MSG, PDF, RTF, and EML.
Conclusion
The Instant Search Box is missing issue can occur due to incomplete indexing in Outlook, corruption of Outlook data file, and various other reasons. You can follow the solutions mentioned above to resolve the search box missing problem. If the cause of the problem is corrupt PST file, you can use the inbuilt tool of Outlook, SCANPST.EXE to repair the file. If the SCANPST.EXE fails to fix the issue, use a powerful PST repair tool, such as Stellar Repair for Outlook.
