How to troubleshoot Outlook for Mac when Can't open email from Spotlight

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

How to troubleshoot Outlook for Mac when Can't open email from Spotlight

2. Resolution

This issue occurs because the Spotlight search is returning a result from an Outlook profile or identity that is not your default. This behavior may start occurring after you rebuild your Outlook profile or identity, or create a new one

3. Method 1

When you delete an Outlook profile or identity, all email messages and data in the database that are associated with that profile or identity are also deleted. Before you use this method, verify that you do not need any of the associated data. 

Outlook 2016 for Mac:

1. Quit Outlook 2016 for Mac.
2. Select Go > Applications.

1. Right-Click Microsoft Outlook, and select Show Package Contents

1. Expand Contents, SharedSupport, and open Outlook Profile Manager.
2. You can create an alias for the Outlook Profile Manager, and move it to your desktop or another convenient location if you prefer.
   Press and hold the Option key while you select the Outlook icon. 
3. Select the profile that you want to delete, and then select the minus sign (-) at the bottom of the window.

Outlook for Mac 2011:

1. Quit Outlook for Mac 2011.
2. Press and hold the Option key while you select the Outlook icon to start the Microsoft Database Utility.
3. Select the identity that you want to delete, and then select the minus sign (-) at the bottom of the window

4. Method 2

1. On the Apple menu, select System Preferences.

1. Select Spotlight.

1. Select Privacy.

1. Select the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the window.
2. Locate one of the following directories, depending on your version of Outlook for Mac:
3. Outlook 2016 for Mac:
4. /Users/<Username>/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook/Outlook 15 Profiles/<profile name>
5. Outlook for Mac 2011:
6. /Users/<username>/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2011 Identities/<Identity Name>
7. Select the identity or profile folder that you want to exclude from Spotlight indexing, and then select Choose.
8.  
9. After you select an identity or profile, it will be displayed in the Privacy section. Directories that are listed in this section are no longer indexed by Spotlight. 
10.  
11. Repeat steps 4-6 for any additional profiles or identities that you want to exclude