Set default search scope

This policy allows you to specify the default search scope to be used. Users will not be able to change the default once this policy is set, but they can change the scope while running a search.

If you enable this policy, you can specify the folders that Outlook searches by default when the user begins a new search.

If you disable or do not configure this policy, Outlook searches all folders in the current mailbox when the search is initiated from the Inbox. If the search is initiated from another folder, the search only includes items from that folder. Users can still change the scope when searching.

Supported on: At least Windows 7




  1. Default behavior (see explanation)
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry Pathsoftware\policies\microsoft\office\15.0\outlook\search
    Value Namedefaultsearchscope
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value0
  2. "All Mailboxes" on all folders
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry Pathsoftware\policies\microsoft\office\15.0\outlook\search
    Value Namedefaultsearchscope
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value1
  3. "Current Folder" on all folders
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry Pathsoftware\policies\microsoft\office\15.0\outlook\search
    Value Namedefaultsearchscope
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value2
  4. "Current Mailbox" on all folders
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry Pathsoftware\policies\microsoft\office\15.0\outlook\search
    Value Namedefaultsearchscope
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value3


outlk15.admx

Administrative Templates (Computers)

Administrative Templates (Users)