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How to search WhatsApp
Android
iOS
Web
Android
iOS
Web
You can search chats for messages, photos, videos, links, GIFs, audio, documents, and polls using the WhatsApp search feature. You can use search from the Chats tab or within individual or group chats.
Search by keyword
The search feature allows you to search your chats with a keyword. Search by keyword in an individual or group chat, or from the Chats tab.
Chats tab
- Click .
- Type the word or phrase you’re looking for in the Search field.
- Click the result to open that message in the chat.
Individual or group chat
- Open an individual or group chat.
- Click .
- Type the word or phrase you’re looking for in the Search field.
- Click the result to open that message in the chat.
Search by date
The search feature also allows you to search in an individual or group chat by date.
- Click on the chat you want to search.
- Click .
- Click .
- Select the date you want to search.
Search for groups
You can search for a group by its subject or contents.
- If you can't find a group, be sure to check the Archived Chats section within the Chats tab.
- If you’d like to join a group, you'll have to ask the group admin to add you or send you an invite link.
- You can pin a group for easy access. Learn how to pin a chat in this article.
Note: If you’ve recently restored your WhatsApp chat history, it can take time to recreate the search database, depending on the size of your chat history. Don’t force-close WhatsApp during this time.