Stock Android email app does not 'search the server' for old emails

[Android Central Question]

I've got a Huawei P10 Plus using Android v9. I've setup the email app to point to my Hotmail account and generally it works fine. However, what's really annoying is that if I want to search through my emails, there's an option to 'search server' for older emails. This just does not work. It never returns anything. I've got Hotmail correctly configured, AFAIK (otherwise I wouldn't be able to send and receive email) so does anyone know why it won't search the server?

 

[mustang7757]

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https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=409154

I've got a Huawei P10 Plus using Android v9. I've setup the email app to point to my Hotmail account and generally it works fine. However, what's really annoying is that if I want to search through my emails, there's an option to 'search server' for older emails. This just does not work. It never returns anything. I've got Hotmail correctly configured, AFAIK (otherwise I wouldn't be able to send and receive email) so does anyone know why it won't search the server?

 

[splinternet]

Hi Mustang, I'm actually already signed up, my ID is Splinternet.

 

[B. Diddy]

Just to be sure, if you go to your Hotmail web interface on your computer browser, can you find those old emails?

 

[splinternet]

B.Diddy - yes, I can find all old Hotmail emails via the web interface, the only limitation is the number returned, there's some maximum no. of emails that Hotmail will identify

 

[B. Diddy]

You have it set up as the IMAP server, and not POP3, right?

 

[splinternet]

yes - incoming server: imap-mail.outlook.com, outgoing server: smtp-mail.outlook.com

 

[mustang7757]

Hi Mustang, I'm actually already signed up, my ID is Splinternet.

Ok, cool welcome back

 

[B. Diddy]

Is there an option in the stock Email app's settings for how far back in time to sync?

 

[splinternet]

Is there an option in the stock Email app's settings for how far back in time to sync?

Aren't sync'ing and and searching the server two different things? Sync is for changes, e.g. new emails to download to the device. The only settings I can set are Sync Frequency (15 mins, 30 mins or 1 hour; I've chosen 15 mins), and max. number of emails to download at each sync, I've set mine at 25. Even if I set this to all emails (i.e. no limit), it makes no difference to finding older emails on the server.

 

[B. Diddy]

Yeah, you're probably right -- I'm just not familiar with these kinds of functions when it comes to IMAP or Exchange servers.

Interestingly, I found a thread from a year ago with someone asking virtually the same question: https://forums.androidcentral.com/s...stock-email-app-older-email-search-issue.html. That person noted that the Hotmail account that could have its server searched was using an Exchange server. Is it possible for you to change from IMAP to Exchange?