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Search and filter email

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Try it!

Search is a powerful tool to help find email messages anywhere in Outlook.

Search email

  1. Select the search bar, located above the Outlook ribbon. 

  2. Type a name, subject, or phrase which is included in the email message that you want to find. You can use quotation marks around a phase to search on words in that exact order. 

Refine your search results

  1. Select the search bar and type a name or subject.

  2. Select an option to refine or widen your search: All Mailboxes, Current Mailbox, Current Folder, Subfolder, or All Outlook Items.

  3. You can also select a category within the Refine group to further filter your search results:

    • From – only shows results from a specific person.

    • Subject - only shows results based on the subject.

    • Has Attachment – only shows emails that have attachments.

    • Categorized – only shows results that have a specific category assigned to them.

    • Sent To – searches messages Sent to You, Not Sent Directly to You, or Sent to Another Recipient.

    • Unread – only shows unread messages.

    • Flagged - only shows messages flagged by you.

    • Important - only shows emails marked as Important.

    • More - filters your results based on more advanced criteria, such as Cc or Sensitivity.

  4. Select Recent Searches to run recent searches again.

    Note: Outlook saves only the recent search query, not the results.

  5. Select Close Search to close the Search tab.

Want more?

Learn to narrow your search criteria for better searches in Outlook

Create a Search Folder

Find a message with Instant Search

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