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 you 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 organization created.

Search for messages in Chat & Gmail

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

Search for messages in a space or conversation

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

Filter & sort messages

In Chat, at the top, click the search box.
Enter search text.
- As you enter text, suggestions appear below. Press "tab" to autofill the rest of a query.
Press Enter.
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 I’m in: Messages from conversations that you’re a member of.
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.
To open a result, click it.
- Results from spaces 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.
Search history for suggestions isn’t shared between Chat and Chat in Gmail.
You can delete your recent searches or your entire search history.

In Chat, click the Search bar.
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 organization of the person who started the direct message. Learn about message history for conversations with work or school accounts.

Auto-save & sync message drafts

Google Chat automatically saves your unsent messages as drafts across your computer and mobile devices in the conversation compose box and in a new Drafts shortcut. This allows you to start a message on one device and finish it on another.

This feature is available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.

Draft messages are automatically saved when you:

Pause typing for 5 seconds.
Switch to a different window or application where Google Chat is not in focus.
Navigate to another screen within Google Chat, such as your chat list or Home.

Access and manage drafts:

In Chat, in the left sidebar, select Drafts to view and manage all active drafts.
Note: If you have no active drafts, this shortcut won't be visible.
Select a draft. You can edit a draft, which opens the conversation with the draft pre-filled, or delete it.
Optional: You can access drafts from your chats. When you open a conversation, any saved draft for that conversation automatically appears in the compose box and a new draft icon appears next to conversations that have an unsent draft. This icon takes priority over other indicators like pinned conversations or meeting notifications.