How to search certain dates in iMessages

Hi there zackary115!

It sounds like you're trying to search for iMessages from a certain date. We can help.

It wasn't clear which device you were using iMessages with, but on a Mac you can use Spotlight Search to set up the parameters for your search. First, make sure you have Mail & Messages selected in System Preferences > Spotlight > Search Results, then you can use Spotlight to reveal any message delivered on a given date in the Spotlight window:

For instance, May 5th, 2021:

kind:message created:05/05/2021

Or messages from someone between April 15th and May 5th:

kind:message from:Mom created:04/15/2021-05/05/2021



Spotlight will list the messages it found in that date range, and when you select one of them and press ⌘R. it will open the Messages app to that message. You can hover your mouse pointer over a given message, and the date of the message will float above it.

You can use greater than or less than operators as well to refine your search:

Search for anything before May 5th, 2021:

created:<05/05/2021

Search for anything after May 5th, 2021:

created:>05/05/2021

If you are using Messages on an iPhone, you will not be able to use Spotlight Search. Instead, your best option will be to use keyword searches from the search box inside your Messages list.

Hope that helps!