How to Search on iPhone and iPad

Searching on your iPhone or iPad goes far beyond typing in Safari. Apple’s built-in search, called Spotlight, can find apps, contacts, emails, settings, files, and even content inside apps, all from one place. This guide shows you how to use Spotlight, search within apps, and use Siri to find almost anything on your device.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone or iPad running iOS 15 or later (the steps are similar on older versions).
Your device turned on and unlocked.
No internet connection is required for basic Spotlight searches, but searching the web or online content will need Wi-Fi or cellular data.

Step-by-Step

Open Spotlight Search: From the Home Screen, swipe down from the middle of the screen. You’ll see a search bar at the top and a list of suggestions below it.
Type your query: Tap the search field and type what you’re looking for. For example, type “Photos” to find the Photos app, or type a contact’s name to see their info.
Use Siri Suggestions: Before you type, Spotlight shows Siri Suggestions—apps and contacts you use often. Tap one to open it directly.
Search the web: At the top of the results, you’ll see a “Search Web” or “Search Wikipedia” option. Tap it to open Safari with your search in a new tab.
Search within apps: Spotlight can find content inside apps like Mail, Messages, Notes, and Calendar. For example, typing “meeting” will show emails and calendar events containing that word.
Use Siri to search: Press and hold the Side button (or say “Hey Siri”) and say something like “Find my notes about groceries” or “Search for recipes on the web.” Siri will open the relevant app or show results.
Search in Safari: Open Safari, tap the address bar, and type your query. You’ll see suggestions from the web, your bookmarks, and your history. Tap a suggestion or press Go to search.
Search in Settings: Open the Settings app, then pull down from the top of the screen. A search bar appears. Type “Wi-Fi” or “Battery” to jump directly to that setting.
Search in Files: Open the Files app, tap the Browse tab, then pull down to reveal a search bar. Type a file name or keyword to find documents stored on your device or in iCloud Drive.
Search in Mail: In the Mail app, tap the magnifying glass icon in the bottom-left corner of the mailbox list. Type a sender, subject, or keyword. You can also tap the search field and choose a filter like “To” or “Subject” to narrow results.

Common Mistakes

Not using the right search field: In Spotlight, typing a web address (like “apple.com”) will show a web search, not open the site. Tap “Search Web” or press Go to open it in Safari.
Expecting Spotlight to find everything: Spotlight only searches content that apps choose to index. For example, it won’t find text inside a PDF unless the PDF is in Files and indexed.
Forgetting to pull down on the Home Screen: Some users try to pull down from the top of the screen (the status bar) which opens Notification Center. The correct gesture is swiping down from the middle of the Home Screen.
Typing in the wrong language: If your keyboard has multiple languages, make sure the correct one is active. Spotlight searches in the language of the keyboard you’re using.
Not using filters in Mail: Searching in Mail without using the filter buttons can return too many results. Use the “From”, “To”, “Subject”, and “Flagged” filters to narrow down.

Tips

Use natural language: Spotlight understands phrases like “Emails from John” or “Notes from yesterday.” Try typing a natural sentence instead of just keywords.
Search for settings: Instead of digging through Settings, just type “Wi-Fi” or “Battery” in Spotlight and tap the result to go directly to that setting.
Limit Spotlight scope: Go to Settings > Siri & Search > Spotlight. You can turn off suggestions for specific apps to declutter results.
Search from the Lock Screen: On iPhone, you can swipe down from the middle of the Lock Screen to access Spotlight, but only if you’ve enabled “Search” in Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode).
Use the keyboard shortcut: On iPad with a connected keyboard, press Command + Space to open Spotlight instantly.
Search for photos by location or date: In the Photos app, pull down to search. Type “beach” or “2023” to find photos taken at that location or year.

Troubleshooting

Spotlight doesn’t show results: Make sure you’re on the Home Screen, not inside an app. If you’re in an app, swipe up from the bottom to go home first. Also, check that Spotlight is enabled in Settings > Siri & Search.
Search results are missing apps: Go to Settings > Siri & Search, tap the app that’s missing, and ensure “Search & Suggestions” is toggled on.
Search is slow or unresponsive: Restart your device by holding the Side button and either volume button, then sliding to power off. If that doesn’t help, check for iOS updates in Settings > General > Software Update.
Siri doesn’t respond to “Hey Siri”: Ensure Siri is enabled in Settings > Siri & Search. If it is, but still not working, go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle “Listen for “Hey Siri”” off and on again.
Mail search doesn’t find emails: If you have many emails, search can be slow. Try narrowing with filters. If results are still missing, check that your email account is set to sync enough days of mail in Settings > Mail > Accounts.
Files search returns nothing: Make sure the file is stored on your device or in iCloud Drive, and that the app that created it supports search. Some third-party apps don’t index their content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search for text inside photos?

Yes, iOS 15 and later can recognize text in photos. Open Spotlight and type the text you’re looking for, and photos containing that text will appear under “Photos.”

Does Spotlight search the internet?

Spotlight can show web suggestions and Wikipedia results, but it doesn’t perform a full web search. To do that, tap “Search Web” at the top of the results, which opens Safari.

Can I search for a specific setting?

Yes, type the setting name in Spotlight, and it will appear under “Settings.” Tap it to jump directly to that settings page.

Why doesn’t Spotlight find an app I know is installed?

If the app is hidden from the Home Screen, it may not appear in Spotlight. Go to Settings > Siri & Search, find the app, and ensure “Search & Suggestions” is on. Also, check if the app is in the App Library—search there by swiping left on the Home Screen.

Can I search on iPad with a keyboard?

Yes, press Command + Space to open Spotlight. You can also use the keyboard to type your search directly.

Is there a way to search all my notes at once?

Yes, open the Notes app, tap the search icon at the top, and type your query. This searches all notes, including those in folders and attachments.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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