How to Search for Emails With Empty Subject Lines in Outlook

Find all those emails with no subject lines

What to Know

  • Press Ctrl+E > Search Tools > Advanced Find > Browse. Select folders > OK.
  • Next, select Advanced. In Define more criteria, select Field > Frequently-used fields > Subject.
  • Select Condition and choose is empty. Next, select Add to List > Find Now.

This article explains how to search for emails with no subject in Outlook. Instructions in this article apply to Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and Outlook for Microsoft 365.

Search for Emails With Empty Subject Lines in Outlook

To find emails with empty Subject fields in Outlook:

  1. Press Ctrl+E to go to the Search tab.

    An inbox in Outlook.
  2. In the Options group, select Search Tools. Or, press Ctrl+Shift+F.

  3. Select Advanced Find.

    Opening up the advanced email finder in Outlook.
  4. Select Browse.

    Selecting browse to find folders to search in.
  5. Choose which folders you want to search and select OK. Optionally, select the Search subfolders check box for a more thorough search.

    Selecting different folder to search in Outlook.
  6. Select the Advanced tab.

    Selecting the advanced tab for additional search criteria in Outlook.
  7. In the Define more criteria section, select the Field dropdown arrow and choose Frequently-used fields > Subject.

    Choosing the subject field to search in.
  8. Select the Condition dropdown arrow and choose is empty.

    Choosing the option to search an empty field in Outlook.
  9. Select Add to List.

    Selecting the search criteria to be added to a search list in Outlook.
  10. Select Find Now.

    The advanced search is ready to be started in Outlook.
  11. Messages with empty Subject fields are listed at the bottom of the dialog box.

You can edit received messages in Outlook if you want to add a subject line to your emails.

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