How to Search for Emails With Empty Subject Lines in Outlook

Email & Messaging

Updated May 28, 2019

Email messages that don't have a subject are not easy to find in the Outlook message list. Instead, use the search function to locate these emails. Then, select emails with no subject to rename them with a descriptive subject.

Instructions in this article apply to Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010; and Outlook for Office 365.

Search for Emails with Empty Subject Lines in Outlook

To find emails with empty Subject fields in Outlook:

Press Ctrl+E to go to the Search tab.
In the Options group, select Search Tools. Or, press Ctrl+Shift+F.
Select Advanced Find.
Select Browse.
Choose which folders you want to search and select OK. Optionally, select the Search subfolders check box for a more thorough search.
Select the Advanced tab.
In the Define more criteria section, select the Field dropdown arrow and choose Frequently-used fields > Subject.
Select the Condition dropdown arrow and choose is empty.
Select Add to List.
Select Find Now.
Messages with empty Subject fields are listed at the bottom of the dialog box.