Windows update puts Outlook search out of action – the solution

Microsoft has admitted that the KB5008212 patch makes Microsoft 365 Outlook search unusable in Windows 10. There is currently no resolution to this problem, but Microsoft is investigating this problem. Microsoft has published a support document for the Outlook problem here. The document is entitled “Outlook Search not showing recent emails after Windows update KB5008212”: After installing the Windows update KB5008212, the Outlook search does not show any new e-mails.

As a preliminary workaround, Microsoft recommends switching off the Windows desktop search service; because then Outlook uses its own search instead. To do this, right-click on the “Start” menu and open “Run”. In the Open: field, enter regedit and select OK. This opens the registry editor.

Now look for the following entry and click on it: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Policies Microsoft Windows

Now click on “Edit> New> Key” and name the new key “Windows Search”. Now select the new key “Windows Search”. Click on “Edit> New> DWORD Value”. Enter “PreventIndexingOutlook” as the name for DWORD and then press “Enter”.

Now click with the right mouse button on “PreventIndexingOutlook” and then on “Modify”.

Enter “1” in the “Value data box” and then click “OK”. Close the Registry Editor and then restart Outlook. Outlook should now use its own search and the search function for the mails should return complete results.