Have you ever searched for a single email within your Gmail account only to have an entire page (or more) of results appear? You don't have to sift through all of those options. You can simplify and refine your Gmail search using Gmail search operators.
How to use search operators to simplify your Gmail searches
1. Open your Shift and sign into your Gmail account.
2. Type the search operator you wish to use into the search box. Here are some of our favorites:
| What you can search for | Search operator & example |
|---|---|
| Specific sender | from:
Example: |
| Specific recipient | to:
Example: |
| Words in the subject line | subject:
Example: |
| Emails meeting multiple conditions | OR or { }
Example:
|
| Exclude certain messages | -
Example: |
| Results only matching the exact word | +
Example: |
| Messages with a certain label | label:
Example: |
| Messages that have an attachment | has:attachment
Example: |
| Messages that have a Google Drive, Docs and Sheets attachment or link | has:drive
Example: |
| Messages from a mailing list | list:
Example: |
| Exact word or phrase | " "
Example: |
| Search including Spam and Trash | in:anywhere
Example: |
| Search for messages older or newer than a time period using d (day), m (month), and y (year) | older_than:
Example: |
Also, ensure to use a space or a dash to separate your numbers when you use numbers in your search query. A period will register as a decimal point.
For Shift Users: Did you know that Gmail search operators also work in Shift's unified search bar? Try your favorite search operators in Shift to search across ALL of your email addresses at once. You can also exclude certain Gmail accounts from the search parameter.
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