When I search in iMessages on my Mac, it shows multiple matches (ex: "3 matches"); however, it only shows one text conversation. How do I see the others?
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15
Hello DoGoodWork,
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities!
We understand from your post that when searching in iMessages on your Mac that it only shows one text conversation. The search results will only show the conversation which contains the search criteria you have typed into the search field. To show all of the conversations again, clear the information from the search field. This article has information about using Spotlight search on your Mac which you may find helpful:
Use Spotlight on your Mac - Apple Support
Best Regards.
If you received more than one text message, or response from the name that you search, then you will certainly obtain multiple instances. Narrow your search to a particular name, and a date range, or text in that conversation (see below).
Provided that you have Mail & Messages selected in System Preferences : Spotlight : Search Results panel, and have enabled your startup drive for Spotlight indexing, then the following Spotlight searches may help:
kind:chat from:viking created:>06/01/2020
which would show all messages from viking since June 1. A range would be created:mm/dd/yyyy-mm/dd/yyyy.
kind:chat from:viking contains:"call me"
Finds any message from viking containing the words call me.
When you press return on a listed conversation from your search, it will launch Messages at that conversation. You can hover your pointer over a conversation item to see the date/time float above it.
Forgive my lack of clarity. The real question is when there are "2 matches" under one person, how do you see both threads? I hope this makes more sense.
iMessage finds multiple "Matches" to a name I search for - what does this mean? How do I find the other strings/conversations?