Windows 10 bug has broken Outlook! Microsoft issues email alert to millions of users

Windows 10 users who have recently updated their PCs are now facing a hugely irritating issue with their Outlook inbox. It appears that a bug inside the latest KB5008212 security patch is breaking the ability to search for recent emails that may have been received from friends, family or work colleagues.

This is a popular function as it allows you to quickly discover important emails that are buried amongst the barrage of spam and marketing messages. Microsoft has just confirmed that it is aware of the glitch and has promised an investigation with an update expected to be released in the coming weeks.

In a post on its website, the Redmond firm said: “After you install update KB5008212, recent emails may not appear in search results.

“This issue is being investigated. We will update this article when more information becomes available.”

For anyone who is desperate to get this feature back, there is a workaround via the option to disable Windows Desktop Search.

However, Microsft says that its instructions must be followed precisely to avoid any serious problems.

HERE’S HOW TO BRING BACK SEARCH ON OUTLOOK

• In Windows, right-click Start, and then select Run. In the Open: box type regedit, and then click OK. This will open the registry editor.

• Find this subkey in the registry and then click it:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows

• Click Edit > New > Key and name the new key Windows Search.

• Select the new Windows Search key.

• Click Edit > New > DWORD Value.

• Type PreventIndexingOutlook for the name of the DWORD, and then press Enter.

• Right-click PreventIndexingOutlook, and then click Modify.

• In the Value data box, type 1 to enable the registry entry, and then click OK.

• Exit Registry Editor, and then restart Outlook.

If that all looks far too complicated for you to fathom or you’re worried by Microsoft’s disclaimer that getting it wrong could leave your PC with a bunch of issues then it’s hoped that the Redmond firm will release an official patch soon which will bring back the search option.

We’ll update this article when we hear more.