How To Search All Folders In Outlook

The solution? Create an Outlook Search Folder, one that will search through all of your mail in one simple step. An Outlook Search Folder will gather up the things you need to find in one location, so your searches are quicker and your workflow is simpler. The following section will step you through the process of creating your Outlook Search folder, and how to make sure it searches through all of your mail.

All Mail Outlook Search Folder

The reason for creating this folder is to have quick access to all of your mail from any folder and also from any specific date. Once you create the “All Mail Search Folder” you can move it into your favorites. This will allow you to quickly access it with just one click.

While this can make searches easier, you should note that this won’t actually search inside any archived .PST files. This folder will allow you to scan through all of your most recent mails and items and find exactly what you need without having to use the indexed Outlook search.

Creating an All Mail Search Folder in Outlook

Here’s what you need to do to create a new Search Folder:

In the folder Navigation list, right click the header that says Search Folders and then select New Search Folder.

Scroll to the bottom of the window and now double click where it says “Create a custom search folder”.

Another window called the Custom Search Folder will open up. Type “All Mail Search Folder” in the Name field box, then click Browse…

Now select which folders you want to include in your “All Mail Search” folder. Uncheck the first item, and then check all of the folders you store your most important mail in. This is probably going to be your Inbox, the Sent Items folder, and any others you need to include in a global search. Make sure that you have checked off the box that says Search Subfolders at the bottom. Now click OK.

Click OK. A box will show up saying that you have not specified any criteria, just click Yes at this error because you don’t want to create any criteria for this.

Now click OK again and you should now see the All Mail Search folder in the Search Folder List.

Now that the new Outlook search folder is setup, click on it as it may need a while to process and open up, depending on how many emails and files are in there. Don’t fret, as this will only happen once, which is when you initially try to open it. Once you are in you will want to arrange the folder by Date, so that you can easily find more recent emails quickly and easily.  This new Search Folder is going to make finding messages in Outlook, so much easier!

Click here if you need to create an Outlook Search Folder with more specific search criteria.

Search All Folders by Default in Outlook 2010 and 2013

If you are using Outlook 2010 or 2013, you are able to set up Outlook to search the items within All Folders by default. Just follow a few quick steps.

Within Outlook go and click File and then select Options.

Now in the Outlook Options window, click on Search which can be found on the left hand side, then underneath the Result section that shows in the main window, choose the All mailboxes option.

Click OK. You will now search all folders by default in Outlook 2010 and 2013.

Search All Folders by Default Outlook 2007

Here’s how to search all folders by default when using Outlook 2007. Follow these steps:

1. Open Outlook and then click on Tools and then navigate to Options.
2. Within Options, click on the Search Options button, which is found under the Preferences tab.
3. In the Search Options, go down to where it says Instant Search Pane, and select the option underneath that says All Folders, and then click OK.
4. It will return you to the Options window. Click OK again to finish up all of the settings.

Now you can automatically search All Folders in Outlook 2007.