Windows Live Mail only searching email subjects, not email contents


  1. Posts : 9
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Windows Live Mail only searching email subjects, not email contents


    I didn't notice this before today. I'm running the 64 bit version of Windows 10 Pro, fully up to date, as well as the latest version of Windows Live Mail. I have a bunch of storage folders that I've created for email, so my actual inboxes are pretty much always empty as any mail I want to keep gets put into a storage folder.

    When I do a search inside the program, all it's searching are the email subjects, not the actual contents of the messages.

    Any idea how to fix this? I know this was an issue in the 64 bit version of Windows 7, as seen here.....

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/969165

    .....but I'd have thought this would have been fixed by now! Is that fix still valid for Windows 10, or is there another solution? I really don't want to have to switch to another email client if I can help it.

    Thanks!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1
    windows 10
       #2

    Windows live mail not searching message contents


    I have been having the same trouble, which was just noticed...
    Windows Live Mail does not search "contents" of messages anymore... just searches names and message subject line.
    Hope to find an answer as I hate to switch to another mail client, but I absolutly need the search functionality.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Win10
       #3

    I had the same problem. My solution was:
    Move Windows Live Mail's storage folder outside of the AppData folder. I have actually created a subfolder within My Documents, named it 'AllMyEmails' - the name is arbitrary.
    Then I have opened WLM, went to File/Settings/Emails, in the upcoming new window: Advanced / Maintenance / Storage Folder / Modify. Here I set this new folder I have just created above.
    When you close WLM, it will *copy* all the folders and files from the previous location (usually: C:\User\(username)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail) to the new one you set. Be patient, I had 150, 000 emails, it took 30 minutes even with an SSD and a fast rig. Turning off your antivirus temporarily might speed this process up.
    I did not have to change anything in Windows Search, did not have to re-index anything, I just let the computer sit and watched the Indexed Files number grow - then I knew all emails are being indexed at the new location.
    When the copying was finished, I have opened WLM and tried a search: SUDDENLY ALL CONTENT WAS SEARCHABLE! NOT JUST HEADER, SENDER, RECIPIENT AND SUBJECT LINE! HEUREKA!!! I mean when searching for a keyword, the results contained emails that only carried the keyword in their body, and nowhere else.
    Finally I have deleted the orignial WLM folder (C:\User\(username)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail) to free space up, but that is just my thing.
    I hope this helps others too, as I was ready to move to Outlook, which I really did not prefer.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 30,077
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #4

    While not answering the question I think you should know Windows Live mail and all the Essential components have been shelved.

    You may wish to read this. With some of my clients this has already started being an issue and I was forced to move them. I selected Thunderbird for some, straight browser access for others.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...ows-essentials
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Win10
       #5

    Yes, I'm aware WLM being phased out. Even then, nothing stops users from continuing to use it.

    The reason I like it is because it handles each email as an individual file and this minimizes data loss risk. Outlook with it's 10-20-30GB sized PSTs is much more prone to being damaged.

    Windows 10's Mail is cr*p, not a mature product.

    Outlook is a different beast, see above.

    Thunderbid personally I hate, terrible Setup menus, for me it's a mess.

    Unfortunately there is no great free email client successor of WLM as of now.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 30,077
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #6

    Agree nothing stops usage but with my clients something happened that prevented connection to mail servers. You see that in the release and I guess the service they were using, Bell Canada, changed the security protocols. Connecting was very hit and miss.

    Also agree Outlook 20xx can be very cranky and you can spend hours chasing issues.


    Ken
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1
    Win 10
       #7

    SOLVED. I have been trying to find an answer for ages to the inability of WLM to search email contents. My emails are way above the 5,000 Microsoft-imposed limit mentioned elsewhere and which Microsoft does not let you know. I did not want to use Outlook, a programme I dread. I considered some software to do the searching and did not get far. Likewise, Google Desktop search did not work. THEN I saw JediGhost's post above and toyed with the hassle of doing that copying of WLM data to documents. Lo and behold it worked! Well done that man! The Microsoft limit must apply just to the folder that Microsoft specifies on installation so when you move the data elsewhere the restriction does not apply.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3
    Win10
       #8

    I'm happy to hear your success, bearbull.
      My Computer


 

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