Fixed! “Your Request can’t be Completed Right Now” Outlook Search Error

“Your request can’t be completed right now” is an MS Outlook error message that appears when Outlook is unable to process the search command and cannot display the desired results. This can happen due to many possible reasons like:

• Corrupt Outlook data file: Personal Storage Table (PST) and Offline Storage Table (OST) files are where Outlook stores your data. If these files are corrupted, it can impact the search functionality.
• Search indexing is not working : Outlook relies on Windows Search to index your emails. If the indexing process is incomplete or corrupted, search functions may not work properly
• MS Outlook profile is corrupt: Problems with your Outlook user profile can also cause search errors.
• Outdated Software: Running an outdated version of Outlook or Windows can lead to compatibility issues and errors.
• Add-Ins Interference: Some third-party add-ins may interfere with Outlook’s normal operations, including search.

MS Outlook, a key component of Microsoft’s Office suite, is a powerful tool for managing emails, calendars, and tasks. However, like any software, it can sometimes run into issues. In this post, we’ll explore the possible causes of this error and provide step-by-step solutions to get your Outlook search back on track.

How to Resolve “Your request can’t be completed right now” error? Troubleshooting Steps

As we have discussed the possible causes then resolution becomes way easier. However, it is important to know the how you an rectify the issues. Here is the complete step by step troubleshooting method to fix the problem:

1. Rebuild the Search Index: It is important to rebuild the Outlook search index; if it is causing the Your request can’t be completed right now” error. Here is the step-by-step guide:

• Open the Control Panel.
• Go to “Indexing Options.”
• Click on “Advanced.”
• In the “Advanced Options” window, click on “Rebuild.”
• This process may take some time, depending on the size of your data. Once completed, restart Outlook and try searching again.

2. Repair Outlook Data Files

• Close Outlook.
• Open the Control Panel.
• Go to “Mail” > “Data Files.”
• Select the affected data file and click on “Open File Location.”
• Use the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) to scan and repair your PST or OST files.
• Restart Outlook and check if the search function works.

This is the most simple and quick way of fixing the Outlook data file corruption. However, the inbox repair tool fails to repair heavily corrupt files. In this scenario; it is advised to convert OST to PST file format and import PST back to Outlook to fix the issue.

3. Update Outlook and Windows

• Open Outlook.
• Go to “File” > “Office Account” > “Update Options” > “Update Now.”
• Ensure your Windows is up to date by going to “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Windows Update.”

4. Disable Add-Ins

• Open Outlook.
• Go to “File” > “Options” > “Add-ins.”
• At the bottom of the window, select “COM Add-ins” and click “Go.”
• Uncheck all add-ins and restart Outlook. If the search works, enable the add-ins one by one to identify the culprit.

5. Create a New Outlook Profile: The only way to delete, reset or create a new Outlook profile and see that fix the error message. Follow the steps below:

• Open the Control Panel.
• Go to “Mail” > “Show Profiles.”
• Click on “Add” to create a new profile.
• Follow the prompts to set up your email account.
• Start Outlook with the new profile and test the search functionality.

6. Check Windows Search Service

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
• Type services.msc and press Enter.
• Locate “Windows Search” in the list of services.
• Ensure the service is running. If not, right-click and select “Start.” If it is running, restart the service.

We have covered almost every possible cause and the relevant fixes to resolve this and almost every MS Outlook error message appearing due to search or indexing problems. However, there could be several other hidden causes for this like sudden systems shutdown without properly closing the Outlook, power failure, server failure and many more. So, if the above problems are not resolving the issue, then you should immediately backup your data to secure it from any sort of data loss.

Conclusion

The “Your request can’t be completed right now” error in Outlook search can be frustrating, but it’s usually fixable with the right approach. By following the steps outlined above, you should be able to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to your Outlook search. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.