Fix Broken Outlook Search on Mac OS

Problem

Outlook search in Mac OS will sometimes not function correctly after an update or Time Machine data transfer. 

Instructions

MacOS 12.6 and Earlier
  1. Open System Preferences
  2. Open Spotlight
  3. Click on the Privacy tab, set this aside for now
  4. Open Finder
  5. In the toolbar click "Go"
  6. Select Go to Folder
  7. Copy and paste the following location into the "Go to the folder:" dialog box:
    • ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook/Outlook 15 Profiles/
  8. Drag the "Main Profile" folder to the Privacy tab in system preferences
  9. Now remove the "Main" folder from the Privacy tab using the - in the bottom left. Spotlight will re-index the folder
    • Please note: You must perform this step for any additional profile folders you have
MacOS 13.0 and Later
  1. Open System Settings
  2. Navigate to "Siri & Spotlight"
  3. Scroll to the bottom and click "Spotlight Privacy..." 
  4. Open Finder.
  5. In the toolbar click "Go".
  6. Select Go to Folder.
  7. Copy and paste the following location into the "Go to the folder:" dialog box:
    • ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook/Outlook 15 Profiles/
  8. Drag the "Main Profile" folder to the Privacy tab in system preferences
  9. Close System Settings
  10. Open System Settings
  11. Navigate to "Siri & Spotlight"
  12. Scroll to the bottom and click "Spotlight Privacy..." 
  13. Remove the "Main" folder from the Privacy tab using the - in the bottom left. Spotlight will re-index the folder.
    • Please note: You must perform this step for any additional profile folders you have.

 

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