Can't find specific text in a message? Here's what to do:
It's easy to find, access, and reasonably fast messages in Outlook , but it's more difficult to find text inside a message. It can, but there are some detours involved.
How to search inside a message in Outlook
To find specific text in emails in Outlook
- Double-click a message to open it in that window. You cannot search inside messages displayed in the Outlook preview pane .
- Assuming the message ribbon is active and expanded , press F4 or click Find in the message toolbar . In Outlook 2022 and Outlook 2023, Edit | Click Find... in the menu .
- Please select a search option .
- Use Find Next to find all search terms in a message.
Edit | In Outlook 2022 and Outlook 2023, you must keep the Search dialog box open to use the Find Next menu item. There doesn't seem to be a way to use the Find Next command.
Search inside messages in Outlook for Mac
To find text within the body of an email in Outlook for Mac:
- Open the message you want to search in the preview window or in its own window.
- Press Command + F.
- Enter the text you want to find.
- Cycle through the results using the > and < buttons. You can also press Command + G to display the next result and Command + Shift + G to jump to the previous result.
How to Disable Focus Inbox in Outlook 2016 for Windows
Outlook 2016 can be a bit tricky with a focused inbox. Their defaults for disabled unless one can search more productive. To turn off focus inbox in Outlook 2016 for Windows, please do as follows:
- Go to your Inbox folder in Outlook.
- Open the View tab in the Ribbon .
- Click View Focused Inbox to turn Focused Inbox on or off .
How to Disable Focus Inbox in Outlook 2022 for Mac
To turn focus inbox on or off in Outlook 2022 for Mac, please do as follows:
- Open the Inbox folder.
- Make sure the Configuration tab is enabled on the ribbon.
- Click Focus Inbox to enable or disable Focus Inbox .