Methods to Search Outlook.com Email

This article explains how to search for emails using Outlook.com. Instructions apply to Outlook.com and Outlook Online.

Search Outlook.com to Find Emails Fast and Precisely

You can use the simple search field to find phrases, subjects, senders, and dates. To search for emails in Outlook Mail on the web:

1. Go to the Search box. If you use Outlook keyboard shortcuts, press Alt+Q.

2. Type the words for which you want to search, and press Enter. Or, select from the autocomplete suggestions.

3. Outlook Mail understands a few search operators:

   • From: — Search sender names and addresses in the From line.
   • To: — Search recipient names and addresses in the To line.
   • Subject: — Search subject lines and display emails that contain the specified words (the word order does not matter).
   • OR — Search messages with subjects that contain one word or another. For example, train OR bicycle finds messages that have "train" or "bicycle" in the subject.

   Outlook does search the Cc and Bcc fields.

4. To focus on a specific location, select Filters. Then, choose what location you want, if it has Attachments or specific dates.

5. Add additional search words using search operators, such as looking for a specific sender.

6. When you see the search result you want, select the message to view it.