iPad Air running OS 18.6 has no way to search email

Question

iPad Air running OS 18.6 has no way to search email

When I open my email, I often want to find a specific email using the search field. Under OS 18.6, there is no search field for email. Swiping down only results in smeared fingerprints. I’ve tried all the usual things. There should be a search box in plain view, but I’m getting used to sloppy UI design, so I assume this vital feature has been hidden somewhere as an afterthought. Please tell me where it is on an iPad.

MHBrown

iPad Air, iPadOS 18

Posted on Aug 17, 2025 09:01 AM

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Answer 1

brbo

Level 8

38,113 points

Aug 23, 2025 01:39 AM in response to Michael Brown12

Re iPad Air running OS 18.6 has no way to search email: no search field: Please tell me where it is on an iPad.

Wondering if Apple Support's online article for iPadOS 18 (link below) may help:

Search for email in Mail on iPad - Apple Support

Eg:

Lists methods to:

Search for text in an email
Search by timeframe
Search by email attributes

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Answer 2

Aug 23, 2025 10:46 AM in response to Michael Brown12

Michael Brown12 wrote:

Swiping down only results in smeared fingerprints.

It's not a swipe down, it's more of a pull down. Do it more slowly.

I can't find any official Apple documentation for this, but there are many different kinds of gestures. A "swipe" is going to do something different depending on where you are swiping from and to, and the speed, and whether you hold down first, etc.

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