Mail app: search for email in current folder

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Level 1

62 points

Mail app: search for email in current folder

Hi,

I have always been able to use the email search field to find an email in the folder I am in.

Have just upgraded to Mac OS Ventura and every time I search, it searches all folders. This happens no matter what folder I am in.

For example, I am in my inbox and want to search for something there. The results shown are from all mailboxes, not just that particular one.

I've looked in mail settings to see if something in there needed changing but it doesn't seem so.

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Mar 14, 2023 12:26 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 9, 2023 8:40 AM in response to sphinxx

This is a very dangerous behavior! I know, in earlier stages of Ventura, the search location didn't change in the background.

@apple Please, revert this setting!

Worst case szenario:

i.e. you have a folder apple, where all apple global mailserver mailings arrive
search in that folder for "apple", then delete
every email containing "apple" will then be deleted

Be careful, search is broken by design!

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Answer 2

Apr 20, 2023 6:31 PM in response to sphinxx

I waste so much time doing this because muscle memory still has me selecting the folder I want first, then doing a search, then having to reselect the folder I want again. Apple, please fix this!

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Answer 3

sphinxx Author

Level 1

62 points

Mar 14, 2023 12:50 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks for your reply Luis Sequeira1.

I must admit that I don't remember there beign a setting for that in previous Mac Os's but I was able to selcetc a folder and the search stayed within the folder I had selected before I started the search.

I find it quite annoying having to re-select the right mailbox after searching.

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Answer 4

TXK0

Level 1

9 points

Aug 31, 2023 12:20 PM in response to sphinxx

I messaged apple support about this several months ago. I was told Apple must have overlooked this when designing the update, and they confirmed there's no current setting that can be changed to search inside the folder you're in. They recommended that I request it using the product feedback form for MacOS Apple Mail.

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Answer 5

Mar 14, 2023 12:46 PM in response to sphinxx

I don't if there is a setting to change that. AFAICT, you then have to click again to select that folder to restrict the search.

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Mail app: search for email in current folder

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