Policy

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.

Policy
Pack Microsoft Office
Category Microsoft Outlook 2016 / Outlook Options / Preferences / Search Options
Policy ID 49f035c8beff
Internal name L_SetDefaultSearchScope

Registry

Copy registry mappings

HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search\defaultsearchscope

Policy notes

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.

Related policies

Change color used to highlight search matchesDisable Hybrid SearchingDo not display hit highlights in search resultsDo not display search results as the user typesDo not include the Online Archive in All Mail Item searchPrevent clear signed message and attachment indexingPrevent installation prompts when Windows Desktop Search component is not present