Searching contacts, group chats, channels, and messages

When tracking down a contact, message, or discussion, using the search bar can speed up the process. Recent searches help you pick up where you left off, and filters allow you to narrow your search. 

This article contains: 

Prerequisites for using search

Note: Searching for SMS messages requires version 5.13.0 or higher. 

How to search for contacts, group chats, channels, or specific messages

You can enter keywords to search all chats or a specific chat group or channel. When searching, up to 10 of your most recent searches will be shown for quick access to resume an earlier search.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop client.
  2. Click the Team Chat tab.
  3. In the top-left corner, click the search bar. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command(⌘)+F (macOS) or Ctrl + F (Windows and Linux) to quickly jump to the search box. 
    Up to 10 of your most recent searches will be shown.
  4. (Optional) Click on one of your previous searches to perform that search again.
  5. Enter keywords to search for.
    By default, Zoom will search in all chats, channels, messages, and contacts. The following filters are available to narrow your search:
    • Top Results: Provides the best results of all options based on your search. (Default)
    • Contacts: Provides contacts or multi-user group chats that match your search.
    • Channels: Provides channels that match your search.
    • Messages: Provides messages that match your search. Also has the following additional filters:
      • Ordered by: Choose to sort search results that are Most Relevant or Most Recent.
      • Type: Filter by chat messages or SMS messages (requires Zoom Phone)
      • Search in: Choose to search all chats or in a specific chat channel.
      • From: Choose to search for chats sent by a specific user or Anyone.
      • Date: Narrow the search to messages sent today, yesterday, last 7 days, last 30 days, or a custom time range.
      • @me: Click this option to filter messages that contain @ mentions of you.
      • Only Search in <> channel check box: Narrows the search to the channel you currently have open.
    • Files: Provides files that match your search. Also has the following additional filters:
      • Ordered by: Choose to sort search results that are Most Relevant or Most Recent.
      • Search in: Choose to search all chats or in a specific chat channel.
      • From: Choose to search for files sent by a specific user or Anyone.
      • Type: Click this option to filter results for a specific file type, such as image, video, or presentation.
      • Date: Choose to search for files sent today, yesterday, last 7 days, last 30 days, or a custom time range.
      • Only Search in <> channel check box: Narrows the file search to the channel you currently have open.
  6. (Optional) Based on what you’re searching for, you can hover over the search result to view more information or take quick action. For example, when searching for messages, you can hover over a message and click View Context to expand the message or Jump to go directly to that message’s location.

Note: The search results for contacts and channels include a badge, noting how many unread messages you have for each listing.

Zoom Web App

You can enter keywords to search all chats or a specific chat group or channel. When searching, up to 10 of your most recent searches will be shown for quick access to resume an earlier search.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom Web App.
  2. Click the Team Chat tab .
  3. In the top-left corner, click the search bar. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command(⌘)+F (macOS) or Ctrl + F (Windows and Linux) to quickly jump to the search box. 
    Up to 10 of your most recent searches will be shown.
  4. (Optional) Click on one of your previous searches to perform that search again.
  5. Enter keywords to search for.
    By default, Zoom will search in all chats, channels, messages, and contacts. The following filters are available to narrow your search:
    • Top Results: Provides the best results of all options based on your search. (Default)
    • Contacts: Provides contacts or multi-user group chats that match your search.
    • Channels: Provides channels that match your search.
    • Messages: Provides messages that match your search. Also has the following additional filters:
      • Ordered by: Choose to sort search results that are Most Relevant or Most Recent.
      • @me: Click this option to filter messages that contain @ mentions of you.
    • Files: Provides files that match your search. Also has the following additional filters:
      • Ordered by: Choose to sort search results that are Most Relevant or Most Recent.
      • Type: Click this option to filter results for a specific file type, such as image, video, or presentation.
      • Time: Choose to search for files sent today, yesterday, last 7 days, last 30 days, or a custom time range.
  6. (Optional) Based on what you’re searching for, you can hover over the search result to view more information or take quick action. For example, when searching for messages, you can hover over a message and click Jump to go directly to that message’s location.

Note: The search results for contacts and channels include a badge, noting how many unread messages you have for each listing.

Android | iOS

You can enter keywords to search all chats or a specific chat group or channel. When searching, up to 10 of your most recent searches will be shown for quick access to resume an earlier search.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Tap the Team Chat tab .
  3. Tap the search bar.
  4. (Optional) Tap on one of your previous searches to perform that search again.
  5. Enter keywords to search for.
    By default, Zoom will search in all chats, channels, messages, and contacts. The following filters are available to narrow your search:
    • All: Provides the best results of all options based on your search.
    • Contacts: Provides contacts or multi-user group chats that match your search.
    • Channels: Provides channels that match your search.
    • Messages: Provides messages that match your search. Also has the following additional filters:
      • Ordered by: Choose to sort search results that are Most Relevant or Most Recent.
      • Filters : Tap this to access additional filters. 
        • Type: Filter by chat messages or SMS messages (requires Zoom Phone)
        • Search in: Choose to search all chats or in a specific chat channel.
        • From: Choose to search for chats sent by a specific user or Anyone.
        • When: Choose to search for files sent today, yesterday, last 7 days, last 30 days, or a custom time range.
        • @me: Tap this option to filter messages that contain @ mentions of you.
    • Files: Provides files that match your search. Also has the following additional filters:
      • Ordered by: Choose to sort search results that are Most Relevant or Most Recent.
      • Filters : Tap this to access additional filters. 
        • Type: Click this option to filter results for a specific file type, such as image, video, or presentation.
        • Search in: Choose to search all chats or in a specific chat channel.
        • From: Choose to search for files sent by a specific user or Anyone.
        • When: Choose to search for files sent today, yesterday, last 7 days, last 30 days, or a custom time range.
  6. Based on what you’re searching for, you can a search result to view more information or take quick action. For example, when searching for messages, you tap a message to open that chat or channel, then click Jump to go directly to that message’s location.

Note: The search results for contacts and channels include a badge, noting how many unread messages you have for each listing.