Search for Google Chat messages

In Google Chat, you can search:

• In all your messages.
• For messages that include specific people.
• For messages that include certain types of content, such as images.

Important:

• To search for Chat messages in Gmail, turn on Chat in Gmail.
• You can search for messages in conversations that you've joined or can join.
• To filter your search results, you can also use search operators.
• You can't search for messages using the Gmail API.
• Even if you're invited to join, you can't search for messages in conversations or spaces that someone from a different organisation has created.

Search for messages in Chat and Gmail

1. On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
   • In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
2. At the top, click the search box.
3. Enter the search text.
   • For Gmail: You can also use the search operator in:chats.
4. Select an option:
   • For Gmail: Under the search box, click Conversations.
   • Select a recent search.
5. To open a result, click it.

Search for messages in a space or conversation

1. In Chat, select the space or conversation that you want to search.
2. At the top right, click Search in this chat .
3. Enter the search text.
4. Select an option:
   • Press Enter.
   • Select a recent search.
5. To open a result, click it.

Filter and sort messages

1. In Chat, at the top, click the search box.
2. Enter the search text.
   • As you enter text, suggestions will appear below. Press 'Tab' to autofill the rest of a query.
3. Press Enter.
4. Select a filter to find the following types of messages:
   • From: Messages sent from specific people.
   • Said in: Messages said in a specific conversation or space.
   • Date: Messages sent during a specific date range.
   • Has file: Messages that include documents, spreadsheets, slides and more.
   • Has link: Messages that include links.
   • Mentions me: Messages that mention you.
   • Only conversations that I'm in: Messages from conversations that you're a member of.
5. Optional: To sort messages, below the filters, click Sort menu.
   • Most relevant: Sort messages by how relevant they are to your search text.
   • Most recent: Sort messages by how recent they are.
6. To open a result, click it.
   • Results from spaces that you haven't joined may appear. To join, next to the message, click Join.

Delete suggested search results

When you enter text in the Chat search bar, suggestions may appear based on your search history. To find messages, you can select a suggestion.

• Suggestions are stored for 90 days after use.
• The search history for suggestions isn't shared between Chat and Chat in Gmail.
• You can delete your recent searches or your entire search history.

1. In Chat, click the Search bar.
2. Under 'Recent searches', you can:
   • Delete a recent search: click a search Delete.
   • Delete all searches: click Delete all.

Fix issues to find Google Chat messages

• Check if history was turned off for the Chat conversation.
  • If Chat history was turned off, then the messages were permanently deleted.
• For work or school accounts, and for anyone in a 1:1 direct message with a work or school account user: messages may not be available after a certain time period. This depends on the retention policy of the organisation of the person who started the direct message. Learn about message history for conversations with work or school accounts.

Related resources

• Use search operators in Google Chat
• Add formatting to your Google Chat messages
• Learn about message history for conversations with work or school accounts