I know the iMessages search function was never any good, but now since switching to iPhone X any letter or word entered turns up 0 search results. Anyone else have this problem and know a fix?
No results show up in the homescreen search either now.
Put your device in recovery mode and set it up again
- Make sure that you're using the latest version of iTunes.
- If iTunes is already open, close it. Connect your device to your computer and open iTunes. If you don't have a computer, borrow one from a friend or go to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider for help.
- While your device is connected, force restart it with these steps:
- On an iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery-mode screen.
- On an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Keep holding them until you see the recovery-mode screen.
- On an iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad, or iPod touch: Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons at the same time. Keep holding them until you see the recovery-mode screen.
- When you see the option to Restore or Update, choose Update. iTunes will try to reinstall iOS without erasing your data. Wait while iTunes downloads the software for your device. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your device exits recovery mode, let the download finish, then repeat these steps.
- After the Update or Restore completes, set up your device.
Get more help
If you can’t update or restore your device with recovery mode, or you can't use recovery mode because of broken buttons, contact Apple Support.
Put your device in recovery mode and set it up again
- Make sure that you're using the latest version of iTunes.
- If iTunes is already open, close it. Connect your device to your computer and open iTunes. If you don't have a computer, borrow one from a friend or go to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider for help.
- While your device is connected, force restart it with these steps:
- On an iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery-mode screen.
- On an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Keep holding them until you see the recovery-mode screen.
- On an iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad, or iPod touch: Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons at the same time. Keep holding them until you see the recovery-mode screen.
- When you see the option to Restore or Update, choose Update. iTunes will try to reinstall iOS without erasing your data. Wait while iTunes downloads the software for your device. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your device exits recovery mode, let the download finish, then repeat these steps.
- After the Update or Restore completes, set up your device.
Get more help
If you can’t update or restore your device with recovery mode, or you can't use recovery mode because of broken buttons, contact Apple Support.
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your reply, however upon trying all your suggestions the search function still does not work, although it does however seem to search now basic words - but not all, and only from in the last 4 texts in my inbox... Do you have any other suggestions? Or do you reckon this is just a general bug that should get ironed out over next ios update?
Regards,
Justin
THANK YOU, MICHAEL LOVETT2!
I had tried turning off messages search and back on again, but it didn’t work. When I found your comment above and did it, closed settings, reopened settings and turn it back on – it did! Thank you for that important addendum.
Michael, this worked! Thank you. It still isn't searching by name, but at least it is sourcing within the text. Strange that the search does not include the name of the contact. Ugh.
Many, many thanks.
I had this problem also when I upgraded to another phone. All text messages were there in the iTunes backup - just would not allow me to search.... lots of trying to figure this out ( all suggestions here) and finally I cracked it.
If you wipe out your old phone that still uses the same text messages ( which probably has the search working).....the it works as soon as the old phone is reset to factory settings
This is a minor bug that Apple needs to fix!
Now the search function works perfectly on the new iPhone!!
( just make sure everything is backed up 100%)
I know how you feel!!! ....I was hopping mad when it was not working and no one was providing a solution
Glad I could help you!
It has already saved me a dozen times in the past 2 weeks since I recovered it....
Hi Sarah,
I found the answer in another thread. The trick was to go to
Settings>Siri&Search and turn on/off search for messages. All working again.
Hi,
Don’t recall the thread I found, however it’s under settings>Siri and search>messages and toggle off search and Siri suggestions, close settings and then do the same but turn it back on.
Hi Michael,
I am having the same problem with the iPhone X migration. I am not finding the second solution that you found in another thread. Can you share the link?
Richncali -
I’m having the same problem, also with the iPhone X. Have you had any luck?
life saver! thanks
Thank youuuu. You saved my soul
Turn off Siri and search in contacts and that will fix the contact search just like messages.
Life saver thanks
Thank you very much, I have my message search now working! Very important for me! I almost wanted to go back to my old iPhone!
THANK YOU MICHAEL!
iPhone X message search problem?
