'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Disable Top Results in Outlook Search
Question details
The user wants to stop Outlook from displaying the "Top Results" (the three most relevant messages) at the top of their email search results to avoid duplicate or out-of-order emails.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Searching for specific emails within the Outlook desktop client or web interface.
- Observed behavior
- Outlook automatically pins the three most relevant messages at the top of the search results, disrupting the chronological order and making some messages appear duplicated.
Ensure you are logged into your Outlook account and verify whether you are using the New Outlook, Outlook on the web, or the Classic Outlook desktop client, as the settings locations differ slightly between versions.
Disable Top Results in New Outlook and Outlook on the Web
Use this method if you are using the modern web interface or the New Outlook application.
By default, New Outlook and Outlook on the web attempt to highlight the emails they deem most relevant to your search. Disabling this ensures a strict chronological display.
Click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the New Outlook or Outlook on the web interface.
Select "View all Outlook settings" if prompted, then go to the "General" tab and select "Search" from the secondary menu.
Locate the search results settings and clear the checkbox or option that says to show the top three most relevant results.
Click the "Save" button at the bottom to apply your new search preferences.
Disable Top Results in Classic Outlook Desktop
Use this method if you are still using the traditional Classic Outlook desktop application.
Boost Your Productivity with WPS Office
While you fix your Outlook email settings, consider upgrading your document workflow. WPS Office is a perfect, lightweight alternative for all your document creation needs. It offers a familiar interface, seamless migration, and is fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats—all for free.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installer for Windows, Mac, or Linux.
- 2. Open Your Documents: Easily open, edit, and save your existing Microsoft Office files without any formatting loss.
- 3. Enhance Workflow: Utilize Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and PDF tools in one single, tabbed workspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Outlook show top results in search?
Outlook uses a built-in algorithm to determine which emails are most relevant to your search terms and displays them at the top. This is intended to help you find important messages faster, though it can sometimes disrupt the chronological flow.
Will disabling top results affect the speed of my searches?
No, disabling the top relevant results simply changes the display order of your searched emails to strictly chronological. It does not negatively impact the speed or performance of the search function itself.
Can I re-enable the top search results later?
Yes, you can always revert this setting. Simply navigate back to the Search settings in your respective version of Outlook and re-check the box for showing the most relevant search results on top.
