Windows Server 2012 – Windows Desktop Search is not available

By Microsoft MVP and MCT · Pluralsight Author

Published September 28, 2012 · Other Technologies

Hello

This post is not related to SharePoint, however I did not find it anywhere else so I thought it was good to post it.

I just updated my main laptop to Windows Server 2012 and when I installed Office 2010, I got the Outlook error –  ” Windows Desktop Search is not available”.

Outlook warning bar reading Windows Desktop Search is not available

In Server 2008R2 you had to activate Windows Search from Server Manager > Roles >  File server.

However, in Server 2012 they put the Windows Search in Server Manager> Features > Windows Search.

Add Roles and Features Wizard in Windows Server 2012 with the Windows Search Service feature checked

You just install the Feature, restart Outlook and it’s fixed.

Say Thanks if it helped 🙂