How to Search for Text Messages on iPhone and iPad

This step-by-step guide explains how to search for text messages on iPhone and iPad. It covers the required setup, the main actions, and the checks that help prevent common problems.

Searching for messages is easy and fast. However, like many other iOS features, it is hidden inside the app and this tutorial will show you how to search for messages on iPhone, iPad and iPod tap.

How to search for text messages on iPhone

Searching for messages will review and find all suitable iMessage text and text messages on the iPhone or iPad. Here's how this feature works:

Open the Messages app on iPhone or iPad. From the home screen, tap and hold any message then drag the screen from top to bottom to display the hidden Search bar.

Select the search bar and enter the phrase, name or Word you want to search.

Messages, conversations, and relevant topics appears below. Select any message to open it.

Delete the search content, the conversation appears as usual. Drag the message screen down any time you want to search for content. Drag the screen from the bottom to hide the search bar.

Note: You must search for messages from the main screen of the iOS messaging app. You cannot search within individual conversations or messages because the Search bar is only available on the main screen of the app.

Finding the right messages, words and phrases in the messages is really helpful. If you are trying to recall the content of a conversation with someone a few months ago; themes, answers, suggestions or anything else, you can easily find them using the message search feature on this iPhone. Currently the Messages app does not have image search feature.

Note the feature is completely different from the ability to search for gif images in the Messages app or search functions of stickers.