Email Search Issues

How to Find Emails by Sender in New Outlook

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to locate or group emails from a specific person in the New Outlook for Windows, as the classic sender-sorting behavior is no longer available or efficient.

How to Find Emails by Sender in New Outlook

Product: New Outlook for Windows
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Navigating a large mailbox to find important messages sent by a particular contact.
Observed behavior: The traditional method of sorting the inbox by clicking the 'From' column header is unsupported or behaves differently, requiring new search methods to locate sender-specific emails.

Before you start

Ensure your Outlook client is connected to the internet and fully synced so that all recent incoming emails are indexed for accurate search results.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Search Box with the 'From' Operator

The most efficient way to isolate emails from a specific person in the New Outlook is by using direct search operators.

Since the New Outlook removes some classic sorting functionalities, utilizing search queries is now the standard method to filter a large mailbox. You can combine this operator with other keywords to narrow down your results further.

Click the Search Box

Locate the search bar at the very top of your New Outlook window.

Enter the Search Operator

Type 'from:' followed by the person's name or exact email address (e.g., from:"person@example.com").

Execute the Search

Press Enter to display all emails sent by that specific contact.

Use the Search Box with the 'From' Operator

Combining Filters: You can add other criteria to your search, such as 'hasattachments:yes' or 'received:last week', to find exactly what you are looking for.

Solution 2

Apply Advanced Search Filters

Use the visual filter menu if you prefer not to type out search operators manually.

Solution 3

Revert to Classic Outlook (Optional)

If you heavily rely on the traditional column-sorting features for managing thousands of emails, you can temporarily switch back to Classic Outlook.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I click the 'From' column to sort emails in New Outlook?

The New Outlook features a modernized, simplified interface that replaces some classic column-sorting mechanics. To manage large volumes of mail efficiently, Microsoft has transitioned users toward using the advanced search bar instead of traditional column sorting.

How do I submit feedback about missing features in New Outlook?

You can provide feedback directly to the product development team by clicking on 'Help' in the top ribbon and selecting 'Feedback'. This ensures Microsoft is aware of the features you miss from Classic Outlook.

Can I search for multiple senders at once?

Yes. In the search box, you can use the 'OR' operator to find emails from multiple people. For example, typing 'from:alice@example.com OR from:bob@example.com' will display messages sent by either person.

Outlook & Email Problems