Set default search scope: registry value defaultsearchscopeUserHKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search

Policy ID: L_SetDefaultSearchScope
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
Source: Microsoft 365 Apps / Office Administrative Templates (version 5568.1000)
Category: Microsoft Outlook 2016 › Outlook Options › Preferences › Search Options

Registry

defaultsearchscope

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: -

Options
Item	Stored value
Default behavior (see explanation)	0
"All Mailboxes" on all folders	1
"Current Folder" on all folders	2
"Current Mailbox" on all folders	3

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search]

; Options (use only one)
; Default behavior (see explanation)
"defaultsearchscope"=dword:00000000
; "All Mailboxes" on all folders
"defaultsearchscope"=dword:00000001
; "Current Folder" on all folders
"defaultsearchscope"=dword:00000002
; "Current Mailbox" on all folders
"defaultsearchscope"=dword:00000003

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Default behavior (see explanation)
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search" /v "defaultsearchscope" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
:: "All Mailboxes" on all folders
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search" /v "defaultsearchscope" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: "Current Folder" on all folders
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search" /v "defaultsearchscope" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: "Current Mailbox" on all folders
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search" /v "defaultsearchscope" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Default behavior (see explanation)
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search' -Name 'defaultsearchscope' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null
# "All Mailboxes" on all folders
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search' -Name 'defaultsearchscope' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# "Current Folder" on all folders
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search' -Name 'defaultsearchscope' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# "Current Mailbox" on all folders
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\search' -Name 'defaultsearchscope' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null