How Do I Change the Search Bar Location in Outlook?

Are you wondering how to change Outlook’s search bar location? You’re not alone. Many users want to find this out after they update the program.

Luckily, getting the job done is easy.

We’ve discussed the methods you can use as well as other related information.

Changing the Search Bar Location in Outlook

As mentioned, this is easy. All you need to do is click on the File menu, tap the Options command, and then go to the Search category and choose the location you like the most. The process only takes a couple of seconds.

How Do I Switch Back to Classic View in Outlook 365?

Are you not happy with the view that you’ve switched to? Let’s talk about how to revert back.

All you do is:

• Launch Outlook
• Find and tap on the arrow down button that’s on the right-hand corner of the ribbon (you might miss it as it’s small)

How Do I Add Instant Search Box in Outlook 365?

While you’re at it, let’s discuss how to add instant search boxes to the app.

Do the following:

• Tap the Menus tab
• Click on the Tools menu
• Select Search (from the drop-down menu on the screen)
• Click on Instant Search (located towards the top)

How do I change the reading pane in Outlook?

• Click on Settings under Mail (the Settings icon looks like a cog-wheel)
• Select Show Reading Pane
• Close Settings to confirm the change

How Do I Get Rid of the Search Bar in Outlook 365?

Here’s what you need to do:

• Open File
• Click on Options
• Look for the Collapse the Microsoft Search Box by Default box
• Check it

How Do You Fix Outlook Search When It’s Not Working?

We thought about answering this question, as it’s related Some of the fixes you can try include:

Solution 1:  Check Outlook Index Locations

First off, check whether the application is on the indexed locations list. There’s a chance that you have accidentally removed it.

Here’s how you fix this:

• Launch Outlook
• Go to File and then click on Options
• Tap on Search > Indexing Options
• Select Modify
• Tap the Microsoft Outlook checkbox if there’s no tick

Solution 2: Outlook Search Using the Registry

Using the Windows Registry can fix the problem if the above didn’t help.

All you do is:

• Press the Windows button + R
• Enter in ‘Regedit’
• Press Ctrl + F to launch the Search menu
• Copy paste this key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search
• Click on the right-hand panel
• Right click the New Dword (would be 32-bit)
• Name it PreventIndexingOutlook and assign it the 0 value
• Press Ok to confirm

Solution 3: Update Microsoft Office

When was the last time you updated Microsoft Office? If it’s been a while, your system might have bugged out.

You might already be aware of this if you’re using an older Microsoft version as update prompts would have been appearing.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Open the File menu
• Click on Office Account
• Select the Update Options button under Product Information
• Tap the Update Now button
• Wait for the download to complete

If you don’t see any new firmware, you’re most likely using a pirated Office version, or you’ve made changes to your Group Policy.

Solution 4: Update Windows

You need to regularly update Windows for it to work as it should. Bugs can pop up otherwise.

Here’s how you fix this:

• Tap on the Start button
• Click on Settings
• Tap Update & Security
• Select Windows Update, and then Check for Updates
• Install any firmware file that is available

Your PC will restart once the firmware has been downloaded. Hopefully, the problem will be gone now.

Common Issues and Solutions

• Search Bar Missing
  • Solution: Ensure Outlook is up-to-date. Check the View tab for the Layout option and enable the search bar.
• Search Not Returning Results
  • Solution: Verify indexing options via File > Options > Search > Indexing Options. Rebuild the index if necessary.
• Search Performance Issues
  • Solution: Clear the Outlook cache by navigating to File > Options > Mail > Empty Auto-Complete List.
• Search Bar Position Reset After Update
  • Solution: Restore the position by customizing the Quick Access Toolbar or adjusting settings in the View tab.
• Search Crashes Outlook
  • Solution: Disable add-ins via File > Options > Add-ins. Restart Outlook in safe mode and enable add-ins one by one to identify the culprit.
• Search Bar Too Small
  • Solution: Increase the size by adjusting the display settings in Windows (Control Panel > Display > Change the size of text).
• No Search Results for Specific Folders
  • Solution: Check folder indexing settings by right-clicking the folder > Properties > Include in Index.
• Slow Search Results
  • Solution: Optimize mailbox by archiving old emails and compacting the PST file (File > Account Settings > Data Files).

Changing the Search Bar Location in Outlook

As discussed in our article, changing the search bar location is a piece of cake. All you have to do is go to the File Menu and enter the Options command, then navigate to the Search Category menu. With Outlook updating, the location of the search bar will change, which some users may not like.

Hopefully, you found all of the points that were discussed useful. So, what do you think?