---
title: "The most important Outlook search parameters for a more precise search"
url: https://lookeen.com/blog/the-most-important-outlook-search-parameters-for-a-more-precise-search
lang: en
description: "By mastering the Outlook search parameters, you can search for individual items in Outlook and thus increase your efficiency."
author: "Ben Golling"
published: 2016-01-18T14:00:24+00:00
modified: 2026-11-11T06:23:56+00:00
---

# The most important Outlook search parameters for a more precise search

In the instant search field in Outlook, where you normally enter your simple search terms, it is possible to achieve a more exact result through defined combinations of parameters in the form of **keyword:value of your search criterion**. The Outlook search query syntax narrows down your search request to a range defined by you using this combination. This range can be, for example, a limitation to a specific time period, a limitation to a particular person, a limitation to a defined file size, or a combination of these elements.

![Refine Outlook search using search parameters](https://lookeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Outlook-Suchparameter-Titelbild-1-1.jpg)

[Search Outlook even faster with Lookeen – Learn more about it here!](https://lookeen.com/solutions/outlook-search/outlook-integration)

## How to use Outlook search parameters

These combinations are possible, among other things, by using logical operators such as **AND, NOT, OR, <, >, =, ""**. The following list shows you the most frequently used Outlook search parameters for a more efficient Outlook search.

| **Enter…** | **… to find items that…** |
| --- | --- |
| max | … contain max, MAX, max, mAx, etc. Case sensitivity is irrelevant for instant search, except for logical operators. |
| max mustermann | … contain max and mustermann, regardless of order. |
| max AND mustermann | … contain max and mustermann, regardless of order, supplemented by logical operators such as AND, NOT, and OR. These must always be written in uppercase to be recognized by Outlook as operators. |
| max NOT mustermann | … contain max, but not mustermann. |
| max OR musterman | … contain max, mustermann, or both. |
| “max mustermann” | … contain the exact phrase “max mustermann” by using double quotation marks. This yields results that exactly match the expression within the quotes, instead of searching for individual elements. This is particularly useful when looking for a specific phrase. For example, if you search for “Best regards Max Mustermann”, without quotes you would find all items containing “best”, “regards”, “max”, and “mustermann” anywhere. |
| from:“max mustermann” | … were sent to you by max mustermann. |
| from:“max mustermann” subject:“financial report” | … were sent to you by max mustermann and contain financial report in the subject, body, or attachments. |
| hasattachments:yes | … have attachments. |
| attachment:presentation.pptx | … have an attachment named presentation.pptx or contain presentation.pptx in the filename. |
| subject:“max mustermann” | … contain max mustermann in the subject. |
| subject:max musterman | … have max in the subject and contain mustermann anywhere else in the message body. |
| cc:“max mustermann” | … have max mustermann in the “Cc” field. |
| cc:[max@mustermann.de](mailto:max@mustermann.de) | … have the email address [max@mustermann.de](mailto:max@mustermann.de) in the “Cc” field. |
| bcc:max | … have max in the “Bcc” field. |
| messagesize:>xy MB or <xy KB | … that are larger/smaller than xy MB or xy KB. |
| received:=15.01.2016 | … that you received on 15.01.2016. |
| received:yesterday | … that you received yesterday (possible variants: last week, next week, last year, today, last month, August, etc.) |
| due:last week | … that are marked with a due date. |
| istracked:yes | … that are marked for follow-up. |
| from:max (sent:12.01.2016 OR received:15.01.2016) | … that you received from max either on 12.01.2016 or on 15.01.16. |
| received:>= 12.01.2016 AND received:<=15.01.2016 | … that you received between 12.01.2016 and 15.01.16. |
| received:> 12.01.2016 AND received:<15.01.2016 | … that you received after 12.01.2016, but before 15.01.16. |
| sent:yesterday | … that you sent yesterday. |
| to:max | … that you sent to max (in the “Sent Items” folder) |
| read:no | … that you have not yet read. |

## Combining Outlook search parameters

Additionally, it is possible to combine the individual Outlook search parameters with each other. To do this, separate the Outlook search parameters with a space, thereby narrowing down your search results even further. For example, if you are looking for emails that you sent to Max yesterday, you can simply find them using the search parameters “sent:yesterday to:max” (without quotation marks).

## Simple Search Parameters

If you only need to narrow down your search roughly, simple search parameters can already help you, such as *today, tomorrow, yesterday, this week, last week, next month, previous month, this year, coming year, Monday… Sunday, January… December*, etc. These must also be entered into the Quick Search field in Outlook. Professional search solutions like Lookeen use a graphical timeline for this purpose, so that simply clicking on the corresponding time period narrows down the search. Now that you know the most important Outlook search parameters, it’s time to say: “Practice makes perfect.” Once these combinations have become second nature to you, your work with Outlook will be significantly simplified. The Outlook search parameters (and more) also work in the [Lookeen search field](https://download.lookeen.com/download/Lookeen_help_en.pdf).