We have noticed that many Outlook users are experiencing issues with the “Find Related Messages in this Conversation” search function.
This feature is designed to help users quickly find all emails related to a specific conversation or topic.
However, it seems that the search results are not displaying any relevant messages, and in some cases, the search function is not working at all.
We understand how frustrating it can be to spend valuable time searching for important emails, only to be met with irrelevant or no results.
After conducting some research, we have found that this issue has been reported by several users, and Microsoft has acknowledged the problem.
In some cases, the issue has been resolved with updates to the software, but for others, the search function remains faulty.
We will be exploring this issue further and providing solutions for users who are experiencing this problem.
Using Outlook’s built-in feature, you can search for related messages either by conversation or by the sender.
Outlook is a powerful email tool, and one of its most useful features is the ability to find related messages.
This can be handy if you’re looking for a specific email but can’t remember where it is.
To find related messages in Outlook, open the email you want to find, and click the “Related” tab.
From there, you can choose to view all related messages, or only those from the same sender, recipient, or conversation.
Overview of Find Related Messages in Outlook
What is Find Related Messages in Outlook?
Find Related Messages in Outlook is a feature that helps users find all the messages that are related to a particular email conversation.
It is a useful tool that helps users save time and effort by grouping all the messages that are part of the same conversation in one place.
How Does Find Related Messages in Outlook Work?
When a user clicks on an email conversation, Outlook automatically groups all the messages that are part of that conversation together.
This grouping is based on the subject line of the emails, the sender’s name, and the date and time of the messages.
Users can also use the Find Related Messages in Outlook feature to search for all the messages that are related to a particular conversation.
To use this feature, a user needs to right-click on an email message that is part of the conversation and select the “Find Related” option.
Outlook will then display all the messages that are related to that conversation.
Why is Find Related Messages in Outlook Important?
Find Related Messages in Outlook is an important feature because it helps users manage their emails more efficiently.
It allows users to quickly find all the messages that are part of a conversation and respond to them in a timely manner.
This feature is especially useful for users who receive a large number of emails every day and need to keep track of multiple conversations at once.
However, sometimes users may experience issues with the Find Related Messages in Outlook feature.
For example, the search function may not work properly, or the grouping of messages may be incorrect.
In such cases, users can refer to the Outlook Help and Support section or seek assistance from the IT department.
In conclusion, Find Related Messages in Outlook is a powerful tool that helps users manage their emails more efficiently.
By grouping all the messages that are part of a conversation together, users can save time and respond to emails in a timely manner.
How to Find Related Messages In Outlook?
Filtering or Sorting emails category-wise in Microsoft Outlook is quite simple, and Search Bar plays an important role in it.
There is an integrated tool in Outlook that allows you to quickly find all related messages based on either the conversation or the sender.
Message in a Conversation
- Open Outlook >> find the message for which you need to find related messages.
- Right-click on that email and select Find Related from the drop-down list >> Messages in this Conversation.

At the same time, you can observe a text appearing on your search bar”[Conversation]:=”subject of the selected email”, instead of following this method you can directly type the text and get similar results.

In the mail list, all the messages that are related to a single conversation have been found and listed together.
Message from Sender
- Open Outlook >> find the message for which you need to find related messages.
- Right-click on that email and select Find Related from the drop-down list >> Messages from Sender.

You will get all the emails received from that specific sender there is no relation between the listed emails, the only common factor is the sender’s email address.
Similarly, the text appearing on your search bar from:”name or email address of the sender”, instead of following this method you can directly type the text and get similar results.
Messages in the conversation Vs Messages from Sender
The majority of Users are still confused about the major difference between Messages in the conversation & Messages from Sender.
The term itself explains the difference if you select “messages in the conversation”, Outlook arranges emails related to that subject or conversation in a queue, no matter which folder that conversation email is available.
Outlook assembles all emails related to that conversation.
Whereas “Message from sender” reveal all emails received from that specific sender no matter if any conversation relation between the emails is there.
Find Related Messages Not Working [How to Fix it?]
The above two methods will help you find related messages in Microsoft Outlook. There might be times when you are not able to find the message or sender’s name you are looking for when searching the related messages.
Sometimes updating Outlook cause trouble to perform related actions, so find out whether your Microsoft Outlook is updated or not.
Trying to disable your add-ins won’t work if you can’t update Outlook. You might have problems searching if you have some add-ins installed.
- Select “File” >> “Options“
- Select “Add-ins” from the left navigation section.
- At the bottom of the window, ensure the “Manage” drop-down has “COM Add-ins” selected, then select the “Go…” button.

- You will get “COM Add-ins” dialog box with consists of all the add-ins added to your Microsoft Outlook.
- Uncheck the one you like to disable; I recommend unchecking to fix the able issue.

- Click Ok, all your add-ins are now disabled, this time Find Related Messages in Outlook work properly.
Restart Outlook and try using the related message search again. Once it works, go back and enable each add-in one by one.
Perform a related message search after each one is enabled to figure out which one was interfering.
Troubleshooting Find Related Messages in Outlook
If you are experiencing issues with Find Related Messages in Outlook, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the problem. Here are some of the most common solutions:
Update Outlook
Make sure that you have the latest version of Outlook installed.
To check for updates, open Outlook and choose File >> Office Account >> Update Options >> Update Now.
If there are any updates available, install them and then restart Outlook.
Fix Outlook Indexing Issues
If Outlook is not indexing your messages properly, this can cause issues with the Find Related Messages feature.
To fix this, go to File >> Options >> Search >> Indexing Options. From here, you can check if “Microsoft Outlook” is marked for indexing.
If it is, try disabling and then re-enabling Outlook. To do this, deselect Outlook from indexing, close the Outlook client, and then reselect it and restart Outlook.
Enable Find Related Messages Feature
If the Find Related Messages feature is not enabled, you will not be able to use it. To enable it, go to File >> Options >> Mail >> Replies and Forwards.
Under “When replying to a message“, make sure that “Include original message text” is selected.
Rebuild the Index
If none of the above solutions work, you may need to rebuild the index. To do this, go to File >> Options >> Search >> Indexing Options.
Click “Advanced”, and then click “Rebuild”. This may take some time, but once it is complete, try using the Find Related Messages feature again.
Check Outlook Options
Finally, double-check your Outlook options to make sure that everything is configured correctly.
Go to File >> Options >> Search and make sure that “Improve search speed by limiting the number of results shown” is not selected. Also, make sure that “Include results only from” is set to “All folders”.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve any issues you are experiencing with Find Related Messages in Outlook.
Final Words
In conclusion, the Related Messages feature helps you find messages that are similar to the one you are reading.
The Related Messages feature should include a search function so that users can quickly locate messages containing certain words and phrases.
This article is helpful for all the users facing this issue or learning about Find Related Messages in Outlook.
In conclusion, we have explored the issue of the “Find Related Messages in this Conversation” search function not working in Outlook.
We have learned that this issue can be caused by a variety of factors, including indexing problems, outdated software versions, and deprecated features.
We have also discovered that there are several solutions to this problem, including modifying indexing options, updating to the latest software version, and using alternative search methods such as using brackets in the search bar.
It is important to note that while this issue can be frustrating, it is not a widespread problem and can typically be resolved with the appropriate troubleshooting steps.
Additionally, it is important to keep software up-to-date and regularly check for updates to ensure that all features are functioning properly.
Overall, we recommend that users who are experiencing issues with the “Find Related Messages in this Conversation” search function take the necessary steps to troubleshoot the issue, and if necessary, seek assistance from Microsoft support.
By doing so, users can ensure that they are able to efficiently and effectively search for related messages in their Outlook conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the issue of Find Related Messages in Outlook not working:
What is Find Related Messages in Outlook?
Find Related Messages in Outlook is a search feature that allows users to find all messages in a conversation thread.
When a user selects a message in a conversation, the Find Related option will search for all messages in that conversation thread and display them in the search results.
Why is Find Related Messages in Outlook not working?
There could be several reasons why Find Related Messages in Outlook is not working. It could be due to a bug in the software, an issue with the indexing of messages, or a problem with the user’s account settings.
How can I fix Find Related Messages in Outlook not working?
Here are some steps you can take to fix the issue:
- Check if there are any updates available for Outlook and install them.
- Rebuild the search index in Outlook by going to File >> Options >> Search >> Indexing Options >> Advanced >> Rebuild.
- Check if the Find Related Messages in Outlook option is enabled by going to View >> Show as Conversations >> All Mailboxes.
- Try using a different search term or phrase to see if it yields any results.
Is there a workaround for Find Related Messages in Outlook not working?
Yes, there are some workarounds you can try:
- Use the Search bar to search for messages in a conversation thread by typing “Conversation:[subject line]” in the search box.
- Use the Quick Steps feature in Outlook to create a rule that moves all messages in a conversation to a specific folder.
We hope these FAQs have helped you understand the issue of Find Related Messages in Outlook not working and provided some solutions to fix it.