Set-MailboxSearch

This cmdlet is available in on-premises Exchange and in the cloud-based service. Some parameters and settings may be exclusive to one environment or the other.

Use the Set-MailboxSearch cmdlet to modify an existing mailbox search.

Note: As of October 2020, the *-MailboxSearch cmdlets are retired in Exchange Online PowerShell. Use the *-ComplianceSearch cmdlets in Security & Compliance PowerShell instead. For more information, see Retirement of legacy eDiscovery tools.

For information about the parameter sets in the Syntax section below, see Exchange cmdlet syntax.

Syntax

Set-MailboxSearch
   [-Identity] <SearchObjectIdParameter>
   [-AllPublicFolderSources <Boolean>]
   [-AllSourceMailboxes <Boolean>]
   [-Confirm]
   [-Description <String>]
   [-DomainController <Fqdn>]
   [-DoNotIncludeArchive]
   [-EndDate <ExDateTime>]
   [-EstimateOnly]
   [-ExcludeDuplicateMessages <Boolean>]
   [-Force]
   [-IncludeKeywordStatistics]
   [-IncludeUnsearchableItems <Boolean>]
   [-InPlaceHoldEnabled <Boolean>]
   [-ItemHoldPeriod <Unlimited>]
   [-Language <CultureInfo>]
   [-LogLevel <LoggingLevel>]
   [-MessageTypes <KindKeyword[]>]
   [-Name <String>]
   [-Recipients <String[]>]
   [-SearchDumpster <Boolean>]
   [-SearchQuery <String>]
   [-Senders <String[]>]
   [-SourceMailboxes <RecipientIdParameter[]>]
   [-StartDate <ExDateTime>]
   [-StatisticsStartIndex <Int32>]
   [-StatusMailRecipients <RecipientIdParameter[]>]
   [-TargetMailbox <MailboxIdParameter>]
   [-WhatIf]
   [<CommonParameters>]

Description

In on-premises Exchange, mailbox searches are used for In-Place eDiscovery and In-Place Hold. For In-Place eDiscovery, unless specified, mailboxes on all Mailbox servers in an organization are searched. To create an In-Place Hold, you need to specify the mailboxes to place on hold using the SourceMailboxes parameter. The search can be stopped, started, modified, and removed.

By default, mailbox searches are performed across all Exchange 2013 or later Mailbox servers in an organization, unless you constrain the search to fewer mailboxes by using the SourceMailboxes parameter. To search mailboxes on Exchange 2010 Mailbox servers, run the command on an Exchange 2010 server.

If the In-Place eDiscovery search you want to modify is running, stop it before using the Set-MailboxSearch cmdlet. When restarting a search, any previous search results are removed from the target mailbox.

For more information, see In-Place eDiscovery in Exchange Server and In-Place Hold and Litigation Hold in Exchange Server.

You need to be assigned permissions before you can run this cmdlet. Although this topic lists all parameters for the cmdlet, you may not have access to some parameters if they're not included in the permissions assigned to you. To find the permissions required to run any cmdlet or parameter in your organization, see Find the permissions required to run any Exchange cmdlet.

Examples

Example 1

Set-MailboxSearch -Identity "Legal-ProjectX" -StartDate "01/01/2017"

This example modifies the start date of a mailbox search.

Example 2

Set-MailboxSearch -Identity "Legal-ProjectX" -AllPublicFolderSources $true

In on-premises Exchange, this example adds all public folders to the existing mailbox search named Legal-ProjectX.

Note: If we wanted to place the results of this search on In-Place Hold, the AllSourceMailboxes parameter must be set to $false. We could still include specific mailboxes in the search by using the SourceMailboxes parameter.

Parameters

-AllPublicFolderSources

The AllPublicFolderSources parameter specifies whether to include all public folders in the organization in the search. Valid values are:

  • $true: All public folders are included in the search. This value is required when the value of the AllSourceMailboxes parameter is $falseand you don't specify one or more source mailboxes by using the SourceMailboxes parameter (the parameter value is blank [$null]).
  • $false: No public folders are included in the search. This is the default value. You can use this value when the value of the AllSourceMailboxes parameter is $trueor you specify one or more source mailboxes by using the SourceMailboxes parameter (the parameter value isn't blank [$null]).
Type:Boolean
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-AllSourceMailboxes

The AllSourceMailboxes parameter specifies whether to include all mailboxes in the search. Valid values are:

  • $true: All mailboxes are included in the search. This value is required when the value of the AllPublicFolderSources parameter is $falseand you don't specify one or more source mailboxes by using the SourceMailboxes parameter (the parameter value is blank [$null]).
  • $false: All mailboxes aren't included in the search. This is the default value. You can use this value when the value of the AllPublicFolderSources parameter is $trueor you specify one or more source mailboxes by using the SourceMailboxes parameter (the parameter value isn't blank [$null]).
Type:Boolean
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-Confirm

The Confirm switch specifies whether to show or hide the confirmation prompt. How this switch affects the cmdlet depends on if the cmdlet requires confirmation before proceeding.

  • Destructive cmdlets (for example, Remove-* cmdlets) have a built-in pause that forces you to acknowledge the command before proceeding. For these cmdlets, you can skip the confirmation prompt by using this exact syntax: -Confirm:$false.
  • Most other cmdlets (for example, New-* and Set-* cmdlets) don't have a built-in pause. For these cmdlets, specifying the Confirm switch without a value introduces a pause that forces you acknowledge the command before proceeding.
Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online, Exchange Online Protection

-Description

The Description parameter specifies a description for the search. If the value contains spaces, enclose the value in quotation marks (").

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-DomainController

This parameter is available only in on-premises Exchange.

The DomainController parameter specifies the domain controller that's used by this cmdlet to read data from or write data to Active Directory. You identify the domain controller by its fully qualified domain name (FQDN). For example, dc01.contoso.com.

Type:Fqdn
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019

-DoNotIncludeArchive

This parameter is available only in Exchange Server 2010.

The DoNotIncludeArchive switch excludes items in the user's Archive mailbox from mailbox searches. You don't need to specify a value with this switch.

By default, items in the user's Archive mailbox are included in mailbox searches.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010

-EndDate

The EndDate parameter specifies the end date of the date range.

Use the short date format that's defined in the Regional Options settings on the computer where you're running the command. For example, if the computer is configured to use the short date format mm/dd/yyyy, enter 09/01/2018 to specify September 1, 2018. You can enter the date only, or you can enter the date and time of day. If you enter the date and time of day, enclose the value in quotation marks ("), for example, "09/01/2018 5:00 PM".

To clear the end date, use the value $null.

Type:ExDateTime
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-EstimateOnly

The EstimateOnly switch provides only an estimate of the number of items that will be returned without copying message to the target mailbox. You don't need to specify a value with this switch.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-ExcludeDuplicateMessages

The ExcludeDuplicateMessages parameter eliminates duplication of messages across mailboxes in an In-Place eDiscovery search. Valid values are:

  • $true: Copy a single instance of a message if the same message exists in multiple folders or mailboxes. This is the default value.
  • $false: Copy all instances of a message if the same message exists in multiple folders or mailboxes.
Type:Boolean
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-Force

The Force switch hides warning or confirmation messages. You don't need to specify a value with this switch.

Use this to switch to hide the confirmation prompt that indicates the previous search results will be removed from the target mailbox, and that the search will be restarted.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-Identity

The Identity parameter specifies the name of the mailbox search that you want to modify. If the value contains spaces, enclose the value in quotation marks (").

Type:SearchObjectIdParameter
Position:1
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-IncludeKeywordStatistics

The IncludeKeywordStatistics switch returns keyword statistics (number of instances for each keyword). You don't need to specify a value with this switch.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-IncludeUnsearchableItems

The IncludeUnsearchableItems parameter specifies whether items that couldn't be indexed by Exchange Search should be included in the results. Valid values are:

  • $true: Unsearchable items are included in the results.
  • $false: Unsearchable items aren't included in the results. This is the default value.

Unsearchable items aren't placed on hold for a query-based In-Place Hold. If you need to place unsearchable items on hold, you need to create an indefinite hold (a hold without specifying any search parameters, which provides functionality similar to Litigation Hold.

Type:Boolean
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-InPlaceHoldEnabled

The InPlaceHoldEnabled parameter specifies whether to set an In-Place Hold on items in the search results. Valid values are:

  • $true: In-Place Hold is enabled on the search results.
  • $false: In-Place Hold isn't enabled on the search results. This is the default value.

You can't set an In-Place Hold on the search results when the AllSourceMailboxes parameter is $true.

If you attempt to place a hold but don't specify mailboxes using the SourceMailboxes parameter, the command may succeed but the mailboxes are not placed on In-Place Hold.

Type:Boolean
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online, Exchange Online Protection

-ItemHoldPeriod

The ItemHoldPeriod parameter specifies the number of days for the In-Place Hold onthe mailbox items (all items or the mailbox items that are returned in the search query results). You use this parameter with the InPlaceHoldEnabled parameter to set an In-Place Hold. The duration is calculated from the time the item is received or created in the mailbox. Valid values are:

  • An integer.
  • The value unlimited. This is the default value. Items are held until you remove the In-Place Hold by removing the search by using the Remove-MailboxSearch cmdlet, removing the source mailbox from the search by using the Set-MailboxSearch cmdlet and the SourceMailboxes parameter, or in on-premises Exchange, you remove all public folders from the search by using the Set-MailboxSearch cmdlet to change the AllPublicFolderSources parameter from $true to $false.
Type:Unlimited
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online, Exchange Online Protection

-Language

The Language parameter specifies a locale for the mailbox search.

Valid input for this parameter is a supported culture code value from the Microsoft .NET Framework CultureInfo class. For example, da-DK for Danish or ja-JP for Japanese. For more information, see CultureInfo Class.

Type:CultureInfo
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-LogLevel

The LogLevel parameter specifies a logging level for the mailbox search. Valid values are:

  • Basic: Basic details of the search are kept. This is the default value.
  • Full: In addition to details in the Basic logging level, a full list of all messages returned is included.
  • Suppress: Logging is suppressed. No logs are kept.
Type:LoggingLevel
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-MessageTypes

The MessageTypes parameter specifies the message types to include in the search query. Valid values are:

  • Contacts
  • Docs
  • Email
  • IM
  • Journals
  • Meetings
  • Notes
  • Tasks

You can specify multiple values separated by commas.

The default value is blank ($null), which means all message types are included. To clear all specified values, use the value $null.

Type:KindKeyword[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-Name

The Name parameter specifies a name for the search. If the value contains spaces, enclose the value in quotation marks (").

The value of this parameter is used to create the top-level folder that holds the search results in the target mailbox that's specified by the TargetMailbox parameter.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-Recipients

The Recipients parameter specifies one or more recipients include in the search query. Messages that have the specified recipients in the To, Cc, and Bcc fields are returned in the search results.

You can specify multiple recipients separated by commas. If the value contains spaces, enclose the value in quotation marks (").

To clear the recipients, use the value $null.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-SearchDumpster

This parameter is available only in Exchange Server 2010.

The SearchDumpster parameter specifies whether the dumpster is searched. The dumpster is a storage area in the mailbox where deleted items are temporarily stored after being deleted or removed from the Deleted Items folder, or after being hard-deleted and before being purged from the mailbox based on Deleted Item Retention settings.

Set the value to $true to enable searching the dumpster, or set to $false to disable it.

Type:Boolean
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010

-SearchQuery

The SearchQuery parameter specifies keywords for the search query by using the Keyword Query Language (KQL). For more information, see Keyword Query Language (KQL) syntax reference and Keyword queries and search conditions for eDiscovery.

If you use this parameter with other search query parameters, the query combines these parameters by using the AND operator.

The other search query parameters are:

  • EndDate
  • MessageTypes
  • Recipients
  • Senders
  • StartDate
Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-Senders

The Senders parameter specifies one or more senders to include in the search query. Messages that have the specified sender are returned in the search results. Senders can include users, distribution groups (messages sent by members of the group), SMTP addresses, or domains.

You can specify multiple senders separated by commas. If the value contains spaces, enclose the value in quotation marks (").

To clear the senders, use the value $null.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-SourceMailboxes

The SourceMailboxes parameter specifies the mailboxes to be searched. You can use any value that uniquely identifies the mailbox. For example:

  • Name
  • Alias
  • Distinguished name (DN)
  • Canonical DN
  • Email address
  • GUID

You can enter multiple values separated by commas. If the values contain spaces or otherwise require quotation marks, use the following syntax: "Value1","Value2",..."ValueN".

To use this parameter, the AllSourceMailboxes parameter needs to be $false (the default value).

To clear the source mailboxes, use the value $null.

To enable In-Place Hold on the search results, you need to set the AllSourceMailboxes parameter to $false (the default value) and configure one or both of the following settings:

  • Specify one or more source mailboxes by using the SourceMailboxes parameter.
  • In on-premises Exchange, set the AllPublicFolderSources parameter to $true.
Type:RecipientIdParameter[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-StartDate

The StartDate parameter specifies the start date of the date range.

Use the short date format that's defined in the Regional Options settings on the computer where you're running the command. For example, if the computer is configured to use the short date format mm/dd/yyyy, enter 09/01/2018 to specify September 1, 2018. You can enter the date only, or you can enter the date and time of day. If you enter the date and time of day, enclose the value in quotation marks ("), for example, "09/01/2018 5:00 PM".

To clear start date, use the value $null.

Type:ExDateTime
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-StatisticsStartIndex

The StatisticsStartIndex parameter is used by the Exchange admin center (EAC) to retrieve keyword statistics in a paged operation.

Type:Int32
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-StatusMailRecipients

The StatusMailRecipients parameter specifies one or more recipients to receive a status email message upon completion of the search. You can use any value that uniquely identifies the recipient. For example:

  • Name
  • Alias
  • Distinguished name (DN)
  • Canonical DN
  • Email address
  • GUID

You can enter multiple values separated by commas. If the values contain spaces or otherwise require quotation marks, use the following syntax: "Value1","Value2",..."ValueN".

Type:RecipientIdParameter[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-TargetMailbox

The TargetMailbox parameter specifies the destination mailbox where the search results are copied. You can use any value that uniquely identifies the mailbox. For example:

  • Name
  • Alias
  • Distinguished name (DN)
  • Canonical DN
  • Domain\Username
  • Email address
  • GUID
  • LegacyExchangeDN
  • SamAccountName
  • User ID or user principal name (UPN)
Type:MailboxIdParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online

-WhatIf

The WhatIf switch simulates the actions of the command. You can use this switch to view the changes that would occur without actually applying those changes. You don't need to specify a value with this switch.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False
Applies to:Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2013, Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Exchange Online, Exchange Online Protection

Inputs

Input types

To see the input types that this cmdlet accepts, see Cmdlet Input and Output Types. If the Input Type field for a cmdlet is blank, the cmdlet doesn't accept input data.

Outputs

Output types

To see the return types, which are also known as output types, that this cmdlet accepts, see Cmdlet Input and Output Types. If the Output Type field is blank, the cmdlet doesn't return data.