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Known update issues

Classic Outlook: server-assisted search does not update after moving items

WorkaroundKnown issueFix script

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Summary

In classic Outlook, Server Assisted Search against online mailboxes does not update when search results change. Microsoft confirms the issue and has escalated a hotfix to the Outlook team. There is no ETA yet. A registry workaround is available.

Symptoms

After a search within a folder (scope "Current Folder"), an item is dragged from the results to an adjacent folder. Expected: the item disappears from the search results. Actual: the item stays in the results and errors appear when clicking on it. The issue may also occur when setting a category or marking an item as read or unread. It can be reproduced with a single mailbox in online mode.

Affected

  • Outlook for Microsoft 365 (classic Outlook for Windows)
  • Mailboxes in online mode using Server Assisted Search

Workaround

  1. Temporarily disable Server Assisted Search. Outlook then falls back to the legacy Windows Desktop Search.
  2. Set the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search.
  3. Create the DWORD value DisableServerAssistedSearch and set it to 1.
  4. To undo, remove the value once the fix is available.

Fix

Not fixed yet. A hotfix is in progress, no ETA given by Microsoft.

Recommendation

Inform users who work with search in online mode. If the issue disrupts work, set the registry workaround for the affected users and note that search then uses Windows Desktop Search. Remove the workaround after Microsoft releases the fix and check the Microsoft known-issues page for updates.

Fix script (PowerShell)

Classic Outlook: disable Server Assisted Search as a workaround

What it does
Works around the issue where Server Assisted Search in classic Outlook does not update search results after items are moved, categorised or marked read/unread.
How it does it
Sets the DWORD value DisableServerAssistedSearch to 1 under HKCU\software\policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search, so Outlook falls back to the legacy Windows Desktop Search.

What exactly happens?

  • First checks whether the device is affected – the vendor states no checkable condition, so "UNCLEAR" and the normal confirmation.
  • Before any change it backs up the previous state to %LOCALAPPDATA%\ITSB\Fixes (the backup is verified; no backup, no change).
  • Sets the registry value HKCU\software\policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search\DisableServerAssistedSearch to 1 (DWord).
  • Afterwards it verifies every change; on an error it restores the previous state automatically.

How to use the script – step by step

  1. Download: on the entry page, read the terms and conditions (section "Free scripts") and the disclaimer, tick "I accept" and click "Download script". The file is saved in your "Downloads" folder.
  2. Open PowerShell – without administrator rights, as the user who has the problem: press the Start key, type "PowerShell", press Enter.
  3. Change to the Downloads folder (type or paste the command, then press Enter):
    cd "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads"
  4. Compare the checksum: the command shows a long string. It must be exactly the same as "SHA-256" on the entry page (C74387C1A73EBA073A5ED4561E06436DF63460E6516F9351D0C80B7F75305622). If it differs, delete the file and do not run it.
    (Get-FileHash .\ITSB-Fix-classic-outlook-server-assisted-search-for-shared-mailboxes--v3.ps1 -Algorithm SHA256).Hash
  5. Unblock the file (Windows marks downloaded files). Alternatively in Explorer: right-click the file › Properties › tick "Unblock" at the bottom › OK.
    Unblock-File .\ITSB-Fix-classic-outlook-server-assisted-search-for-shared-mailboxes--v3.ps1
  6. Allow scripts for this PowerShell window only. This only applies until you close the window – the computer's setting stays unchanged. If PowerShell asks, confirm with "Y".
    Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass
  7. Run the script. It first checks whether this device is affected and then shows exactly what it would change – nothing is changed yet.
    .\ITSB-Fix-classic-outlook-server-assisted-search-for-shared-mailboxes--v3.ps1
  8. Answer the questions: type "Y" (yes) or "N" (no), then press Enter. "Apply changes now?" – Y changes (everything is backed up first), N cancels without changes. "Continue anyway?" only appears if the device does not seem affected or the solution is already installed – then usually N.
  9. Done – no restart is needed.
  10. To undo: repeat steps 2, 3, 6 and 7. The script asks "Restore previous configuration?" – "Y" restores exactly the state before the first change.
  11. Download without a browser (RMM, software distribution): the address needs "&agb=1". This means the person deploying the script accepts the terms and conditions (section "Free scripts") and the disclaimer on behalf of their organisation.
    Invoke-WebRequest "https://www.it-sb.ch/ki-api/?a=dl&f=ITSB-Fix-classic-outlook-server-assisted-search-for-shared-mailboxes--v3.ps1&agb=1" -OutFile ".\ITSB-Fix-classic-outlook-server-assisted-search-for-shared-mailboxes--v3.ps1"
  12. For many devices without prompts (RMM, scheduled task, Intune as a Win32 app with this command line; Intune platform scripts pass no parameters and therefore only check): check only, apply, restore. Exit codes: 0 = done or nothing to do, 1 = error, 2 = no backup to restore, 3 = cancelled, 4 = not affected. Run it in the context of the signed-in user (not as SYSTEM).
    powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\ITSB-Fix-classic-outlook-server-assisted-search-for-shared-mailboxes--v3.ps1 -Check
    powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\ITSB-Fix-classic-outlook-server-assisted-search-for-shared-mailboxes--v3.ps1 -Apply
    powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\ITSB-Fix-classic-outlook-server-assisted-search-for-shared-mailboxes--v3.ps1 -Undo
File
ITSB-Fix-classic-outlook-server-assisted-search-for-shared-mailboxes--v3.ps1 · for the signed-in user
Version
3 · Date 1 Nov 2026 · 48 KB
SHA-256
C74387C1A73EBA073A5ED4561E06436DF63460E6516F9351D0C80B7F75305622
Downloads
0
Source of the workaround
support.microsoft.com

Use at your own risk – no warranty, no liability if anything does not work or is wrong. Test before use and make a backup. Our terms and conditions (free scripts) apply. Generated automatically from the vendor’s statement and checked (rules, second AI review).

Download without a browser (RMM, software distribution): address with "&agb=1" – this means the person deploying the script accepts the terms on behalf of their organisation: https://www.it-sb.ch/ki-api/?a=dl&f=ITSB-Fix-classic-outlook-server-assisted-search-for-shared-mailboxes--v3.ps1&agb=1

Sources

Compiled from the sources listed and translated with AI (Claude); status and dates come from the vendor. The vendor’s statements are authoritative. Updated 1 Nov 2026, 18:36.

Where the information comes from

We continuously read the vendors’ official sources, community reports and trade media and summarise them in our own words, with a link to the source:

  • Microsoft: Windows release health (Windows 10/11, Server 2016 to 2025), Windows message center, known issues of Microsoft 365 Apps (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Edge, Intune, Autopilot, Windows 365 and Entra Connect, Microsoft KB articles with timelines, Exchange and Windows IT Pro blogs, optionally Microsoft 365 service health and message center
  • other vendors: Veeam KB, Citrix (known issues), Ubuntu and Debian (regressions), Broadcom (VMware), Fortinet, Cisco, Mozilla, Let’s Encrypt
  • community (title, short excerpt and link only, without the names of the authors): Microsoft Q&A, Microsoft Tech Community (discussions), Veeam R&D Forums, Eleven Forum
  • targeted web research with AI (Claude), e.g. on the updates of the month – this also finds discussions on Reddit and in forums; such entries are labelled as community reports until the vendor confirms them
  • early warning from trade media (title and link only): Born’s Tech and Windows World, BleepingComputer, AskWoody, Windows Latest, Windows Central, gHacks, The Windows Club, Deskmodder, Dr. Windows, WindowsArea, Frankys Web, heise online

Summary and translation with AI (Claude by Anthropic) – without any data of visitors.

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