Q: cannot search messages after upgrading to iOS8!!!

I have been following this thread for a few days now.  I had this problem with my iPhone 5 running ios7.   It stopped after I updated my 5 to ios8.  However, several days after updating my 5, I purchased a iPhone 6 and within a few days the problem returned.  I performed a backup, reset my 6 to factory settings and restored it from the backup.  My 6 appeared to be fixed, but several days later the problem searching text messages returned.  Frustrated, I contacted Apple.  An Apple support rep recommended that I not restore the phone from a previous backup and start clean.  I did that also and a few days later the problem returned.  I took the phone into an ATT store and the manager and practically every rep there tried to figure out what was causing this issue to no avail, and sent me to the Apple store for further assistance.  Well, the Apple reps had no clue either as to how to fix it and replaced it.  The Apple Tech recommended that I set it up under a new profile.  In fact, he did it for me at the store.  The new phone appeared to work fine until I synced it with iTunes on my personal computer and now, only 2 days later, my brand new phone with a different profile is having the same issue.  I checked with to other family members and friends who recently purchased the new 6 and they have the same problem, but just didn't realize it.   I rely upon this feature as apart of my work and it has become very difficult to perform my job without it.  I will try changing the language next, but I really hope Apple is reviewing this post and comes out with a permanent fix soon.

I have been having this issue on and off with the iphone 5 since iOS 7.  Usually I have been restoring the phone but I used the language trick most recently and the search is working for 3 days now.  I wonder if this issue is with syncing the phone with iTunes based on your comments.  Next time I sync I will check to see if the message search gets disabled again.

I tried to change the language several times, but it's not working.  Can someone send me the link to the "original" post that describes the detailed instructions on how to change the language to fix this issue?  I read several posts that described various different methods which appeared to be modifications of the original post.    Also, is this a temporary fix or are most of you having permanent success?  In the meantime, I am waiting for a call back from Apple's Tech support.  I'll update everyone as to their response.

Same problem. Apple burns napalm.

Here is my update after speaking with an Apple rep today about this problem.  The rep had not encountered this issue thus far so I referred her to this post. She reviewed it with a "senior tech" who said that he was actually able to duplicate the problem on his personal iPhone 6.  She said that he would prepare a "ticket" for submission to the software engineers who would research it and hopefully, I should expect that it will be addressed in the next update.  I suspect that this issue will get resolved now that it seems to be a problem that affects them personally.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Let's hope they finally take note of this.  I had zero luck at the Genius bar last week. 

Same issue here.  The changing system language trick only worked temporarily.

iOS 8.1 can't come fast enough!

I posted earlier saying that I thought the update to 8.0.2 had caused the problem to go away (or, more accurately, allowed the language-change fix to work permanently), but of course a couple days after the update it quit working again.  I also tried disabling the "Reduce Motion" setting in Accessibility options, and that also seemed to make the language-change fix take hold for a longer period (a couple days), but then it quit working again.  And usually, when I do the language switch, it works for only a few minutes up to hours, and then quits.  Right now I'm trying a new twist - doing the language switch and getting it working, then doing a reset of the iPhone (by holding the home & sleep/wake buttons for 10 seconds).  Several hours after restarting, so far, it's still working.  Not holding my breath though.

Slim37, thanks for talking to Apple about this; I really hope they get it.  I haven't seen one iPhone user that isn't affected by this problem, so I am amazed they hadn't heard about it earlier.  Maybe only very few people use the message search feature, so most iPhone users are unaware or don't care?  I can't function well without it, so I hope they fix it soon!

Have you tried removing the keyboards solution I posted last week? I am still having NO issues, my search in "Messages" and my "Spotlight Search" is still working

No problem.  It's been very difficult for me to work without the search feature operating properly as well.  My office sends all phone messages to us via text, therefore, being able to search a few days, weeks or months back to find a client's phone number or message has made my life much easier.  Recently, I've also noticed that if I search for a specific email while in one of several of my email accounts, the search displays emails from other accounts also.  This did not happen in the past.  It's a pain, because now I have to scan through numerous irrelevant emails from the other accounts just to get to the one I need.

When doing the email search, pull down on the screen after you start typing, it will give you the option of "All Mailboxes" OR "Current Mailbox". You currently must have ALL highlighted

I tried the language switch, but it did not work for me.  I'm not sure if I used the method you posted or someone else.   Can you send me your instructions?

Even when I selected "current mailbox" it searched all mailboxes.  Now, when I pull down it doesn't give me that option anymore.  Just the search box appear.  Strange.  I have a new phone now.  Is there an option to turn it back on?

I restarted my phone, tried it "current" mailbox search again and the it worked this time.  Thanks Ceppy!!!

After trying the Language "solution" about 20 times, with every different version of it.....nothing worked. Then I went in to the keyboard, turned of Emoji and Spanish (I never turned Spanish on to my knowledge, so I am guessing that it added to my keyboards when I switched language. Search works like a charm in both the "Messages" search bar and the "Spotlight Search"

Settings> General> Keyboard> Keyboards> English> QWERTY (I already had on QWERTY and never actually went to it, but just letting you know what mine is set on)