Does anyone else find it IMPOSSIBLE to search for anything on the mail app.. Its literally unusable! Almost any time I search for a known email that I have it will turn me up ZERO results from a number of fields ranging from subject matter to recipient.. It is just simply awful.
Anyone got any pointers or software that actually works?
Thanks
Jim
MacBook Air 11″, macOS 11.7
Hey J!M,
We understand you're having an issue using the search function in the Mail app for macOS. Looking at the tags for your post, it does look like you're using a much older version of Mac's Mail app and this could be contributing to what you're experiencing.
If your Mac is compatible with newer software, we'd recommend getting upgraded using these steps in order to get a newer version of Mail:
Use Software Update
Before following these steps, it's a good idea to back up your Mac.
1. From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings or System Preferences.
• If you chose System Settings, click General on the left side of the window. Then click Software Update on the right.
• If you chose System Preferences, click Software Update in the window.
2. Software Update then checks for new software.
• If Software Update finds new software, click the button to install it. The button might be named Update Now, Upgrade Now, Install Now, or Restart Now, for example. You might then be asked to enter your administrator password.
• If Software Update says that your Mac is up to date, then no new software is currently available for your Mac model. Software Update shows only software that is compatible with your Mac.
If you don't see Software Update
If you don't see an item named Software Update, choose View > Software Update from the menu bar in System Settings or System Preferences. Or use Search in the corner of the window to search for Software Update.
If your older Mac doesn't include Software Update, open the App Store app instead. It's in your Applications folder. Then click the Updates tab in the App Store to check for updates. You can also search for software by name.
This is outlined further here: Upgrade to macOS Ventura - Official Apple Support
We hope this helps out, but if not, also check out the following resource which directly addresses your concern: If searching doesn’t find the right emails in Mail on Mac - Apple Support
Keep us posted on how things go.
Take care!
I have the same problem. In addition, the "sort by" drop down menu has completely disappeared, so I cannot sort the inbox, which is a BIG deal when I try to clean up my inbox at the end of a project. I am running Ventura 13.2.1
MAIL APP
