Search on Outlook not working (Microsoft Outlook for Mac, Version 16.40)

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Level 1

10 points

Search on Outlook not working (Microsoft Outlook for Mac, Version 16.40)

I received the following instructions, from Outlook, which I carried out:

"Detected Mac OS 10.14.4+

For Mac OS 10.14.4+, the solution to resolve the search issue is to re-index the Outlook profile folder using the steps below:

1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Spotlight.

2. Click the Privacy tab.

3. In Finder, On the Go menu click "Go to Folder ... "

4. Copy and paste the following location into the "Go to the folder:" dialog box and click Go:

~/library/Group Containers/UBFBT346G9.Office/Outlook/Outlook 15 Profiles/

5. Drag the 'Main Profile' folder to the Privacy tab. Once added , remove the folder, and Spotlight will re-index the folder. Note: You must perform this step for any additional profile folders you may have."

When I try to drag the 'Main Folder' to the Privacy Tab, the following message appears"

"Privacy List Error

The item couldn’t be added or removed because of an unknown error."

Accordingly, I cannot re-index the folder, and search is not working.

Urgent advice required - thank you.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Aug 19, 2020 12:38 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

anonyme4321

Level 6

17,263 points

Aug 19, 2020 2:18 AM in response to LJCS

Have you tried a Restart?

Try manually getting Spotlight to re index, open Terminal type in;

sudo mdutil -i on /

press Return, enter your Administrator password (your key entries will not be echoed) press Return.

If that doesn't work, you might have to How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support without erasing your disk.

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Answer 2

vdr74

Level 1

15 points

Sep 30, 2020 6:44 AM in response to LJCS

I have the same problem on Outlook 16.42. I've used Terminal to re-index Spotlight, which worked. That is: I can find my Outlook messages by searching for them in Spotlight. But I still have no search results in the Outlook application (search bar)...

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Answer 3

LJCS Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 19, 2020 2:26 AM in response to anonyme4321

I have tried: (1) a restart; and (2) manually getting Spotlight to Re Index - no joy.

I think the problem is with Outlook, as Spotlight appears to be working - ie it appears to be finding everything I ask for, so long as it is not in Outlook.

Hope that makes sense.

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Answer 4

LJCS Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 19, 2020 11:24 AM in response to anonyme4321

Please, see below:

LJCS-MacBook-Pro:~ ljcs$ cd

LJCS-MacBook-Pro:~ ljcs$ sudo mdutil -E /

Password:

Sorry, try again.

Password:

/:

2020-08-19 19:13:41.112 mdutil[26318:134600] mdutil disabling Spotlight: / -> kMDConfigSearchLevelFSSearchOnly

Indexing disabled.

LJCS-MacBook-Pro:~ ljcs$ sudo mdutil -a -i off

/:

2020-08-19 19:14:08.616 mdutil[26510:135633] mdutil disabling Spotlight: / -> kMDConfigSearchLevelFSSearchOnly

Indexing disabled.

/System/Volumes/Data:

Error: Index is already changing state. Please try again in a moment.

/Volumes/Time Machine Backups:

2020-08-19 19:14:08.680 mdutil[26510:135633] mdutil disabling Spotlight: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups -> kMDConfigSearchLevelFSSearchOnly

sudo Indexing enabled. (Indexing level may not be changed on volumes which have a Time Machine backup)

/Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb:

2020-08-19 19:14:57.662 mdutil[26510:135633] mdutil disabling Spotlight: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb -> kMDConfigSearchLevelFSSearchOnly

Indexing enabled.

LJCS-MacBook-Pro:~ ljcs$ sudo rm -fr .Spotlight-V100/

LJCS-MacBook-Pro:~ ljcs$ sudo mdutil -i on /Volumes/ Macintosh\ HD

Error: invalid path `Macintosh HD'.

/System/Volumes/Data/Volumes:

Error: Index is already changing state. Please try again in a moment.

LJCS-MacBook-Pro:~ ljcs

PS. I have spent hours on the phone, today, with Apple & MS - each blaming the other.

Also, search is not picking up adobe, or other files/apps, either.

Thanks

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Answer 5

LJCS Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 20, 2020 6:22 AM in response to anonyme4321

First of all, thank you very much for your patience and continued assistance - I am very grateful.

Secondly:

Having carried out: sudo mdutil -i on /, a Spotlight search, initially, showed some Adobe and Word files BUT they disappeared after a few seconds.

Outlook search is still returning 0 results

Additionally:

My Time Machine is not backing up; and hard drive access to Back Ups is telling me "The following disk images couldn't be opened" - the "Image" is my MacBook Pro; the "Reason" is "Resource temporarily unavailable"

The issue with Time Machine is a problem as can't do a reinstall without knowing that I have an up to date back up

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Answer 6

anonyme4321

Level 6

17,263 points

Aug 20, 2020 6:55 AM in response to LJCS

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -boolean true; killall Finder

This will show hidden files

locate .metadata_never_index

This will tell you where the file .metadata_never_index is located, in Catalina the output should be

/Library/Apple/System/Library/InstallerSandboxes/.metadata_never_index
/Library/InstallerSandboxes/.metadata_never_index
/System/Volumes/Data/.metadata_never_index

Move the file(s) to the trash (you will need to enter your admin password)

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -boolean false; killall Finder

This will hide hidden files

mdutil -sa 
sudo mdutil -ai on

To make sure indexing it re-enabled

Reboot your mac

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Answer 7

anonyme4321

Level 6

17,263 points

Aug 19, 2020 12:43 AM in response to LJCS

What if you try to add the parent folder ~/library/Group Containers/UBFBT346G9.Office/Outlook/ ?

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Answer 8

LJCS Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 19, 2020 2:03 AM in response to anonyme4321

Unfortunately, I get exactly the same Error Message.

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Answer 9

anonyme4321

Level 6

17,263 points

Aug 19, 2020 2:46 AM in response to LJCS

Try this then:

cd /
sudo mdutil -E /
sudo mdutil -a -i off
sudo rm -fr .Spotlight-V100/
sudo mdutil -i on /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD

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Answer 10

anonyme4321

Level 6

17,263 points

Aug 20, 2020 2:22 AM in response to LJCS

Ok, it failed to re-enable indexing, do

sudo mdutil -i on /

and wait a couple hours to let it time to re-index everything.

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Search on Outlook not working (Microsoft Outlook for Mac, Version 16.40)

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