Twitter is upgrading the search bar in direct messages, adding the much-requested ability to search direct messages by entering keywords.
This update for Twitter DM search is rolling out to the iOS and Android apps, and will also be available on web browsers.
If you’re thinking of searching by keyword is how the search bar is supposed to work, you’re likely to find someone who disagrees.
However, since Twitter DM search was introduced in 2019, it has lacked the basic functionality of searching by keyword.
Until now, Twitter users were only able to search for DMs by name, which isn’t particularly useful if you have a long DM thread with someone.
As you noticed when Twitter DM search was first announced, the ability to search for messages containing specific keywords would be much more valuable.
Now, nearly three years after launching the first iteration of DM search, Twitter is giving users the functionality they really want.
We know you’ve been waiting for the option to search your direct messages…
You can now use the search bar in your inbox to find specific messages using keywords and names. pic.twitter.com/A41G8Y45QI
– Twitter Support March 23, 2022
Search for Twitter direct messages by keyword
The Twitter DM search now works as you would expect.
Simply go to your DM’s inbox using a mobile app or web browser, and start typing a keyword.
The results will populate as you type, displaying letters containing the word or phrase you entered.
You can see this illustrated in the Twitter example below:
Now you can search for really important things in your DMs pic.twitter.com/pZP6TMYyEN
– Twitter March 23, 2022
While this is certainly an improvement over Twitter’s previously limited DM search functionality, it still lacks the ability to search for historical DMs.
Search results only return what messages were sent and received in 2020.
If you want to quickly find a DM from your previous years on Twitter, you can’t achieve that with the built-in search bar.
To find Twitter messages sent within the past two years, this update should serve your needs.
Featured image: FP Creative/Shutterstock
