How To: Search Your Email in Outlook

Find an email in Outlook by searching for a name, word, or file, and narrow results with filters.

Outlook search looks through your whole mailbox, including the Archive folder. Start with a name or a word you remember, then use filters to narrow it down. These steps are for the new Outlook on NCU computers and Outlook on the web.

Search for an email

1	Select the Search box at the top of Outlook.
2	Type a name, a word from the subject or message, or a file name.
3	Press Enter to see all results, or pick a suggested person to see email from them.

Narrow it down with filters

1	Select the Filters icon at the right end of the Search box.
2	Fill in what you know, such as the folder, From, To, Subject, keywords, a date range, or Has attachments.
3	Select Search.

Search shortcuts

You can also type these right in the Search box. Don’t put a space after the colon.

• from:name – email from someone, like from:smith
• subject:word – a word in the subject line
• hasattachment:yes – only email with attachments
• received:date – email from a certain day, like received:10/01/2026
• Use quotes for more than one word, like subject:"budget report".

Get back to your inbox

Select Exit search in the Search box, or select any folder on the left.

Still can’t find it?

• Check Deleted Items. See How To: Recover Deleted Email in Outlook.
• Email that looked like spam may be held in quarantine. See How To: Find a Missing Email in Quarantine.

Get help

Submit a request through the Microsoft Office 365 E-mail & Calendar service, or:

Still need help? Contact the IT Service Desk:

• Call: 612.343.4170
• Visit: Miller Hall 226
• Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. CT