Avatar for Username

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

How do I search my inbox messages for a specific sender?

JohnBentleyRobinson
JohnBentleyRobinson

I have tried entering, in the 'search' box at the top of the page, the name of the sender whose messages I am looking for, but this returns what appears to be a random selection of messages. I am hoping that it might be possible to enter a sender's name and receive a list of all of their messages, preferably in the order they arrived.

I have tried entering, in the 'search' box at the top of the page, the name of the sender whose messages I am looking for, but this returns what appears to be a random selection of messages. I am hoping that it might be possible to enter a sender's name and receive a list of all of their messages, preferably in the order they arrived.

Chosen solution

That sounds like you global index might be a little messed up. Might also explain why you think search returns random entries.

Help menu (Alt_H) > troubleshooting information. Click the show folder button in the profile section. Close Thunderbird. Delete global-message-db.sqlite restart Thunderbird and let it reindex. Search results will be non existent at first and may take 12 hours or so to fully index.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (6)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor

Try the Quick Filter Toolbar. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/quick-filter-toolbar

JohnBentleyRobinson
JohnBentleyRobinson Question owner

Thank Christ1 for that!

Well, it worked after a fashion.

I entered 'Mary Smith' and clicked 'Sender', and received a list containing her name... ...along with: juandsandy, Morag Morgan, Richard Lawson, Marion Pearson and a number of others!

I'm not sure why these others interposed themselves, but thanks: it works to a point.

Matt
Matt
  • Top 10 Contributor
  • Moderator

Chosen Solution

That sounds like you global index might be a little messed up. Might also explain why you think search returns random entries.

Help menu (Alt_H) > troubleshooting information. Click the show folder button in the profile section. Close Thunderbird. Delete global-message-db.sqlite restart Thunderbird and let it reindex. Search results will be non existent at first and may take 12 hours or so to fully index.

JohnBentleyRobinson
JohnBentleyRobinson Question owner

Thanks Matt. I've done that. I'll leave it until tomorrow and try a search to see what happens. In any event, I'll post back and let you know.

Zenos
Zenos

I like the Gmail UI /Expression search add-on. This would let you enter f:Mary and it would do a good job of finding messages specifically from Mary.

I'm not sure how you'd set up to search for Mary Smith, that is two words separated by a space, but I'm confident that it's possible. This would work: f:Mary AND f:Smith but there may be a quicker solution using quotes. I think f:Mary Smith would look for Mary OR Smith.

I'm not clear whether you're searching inside a single folder, or using the Global Search as Matt has addressed your question. If it's within last folder, then I'd also try repairing it. Right-click the folder, Properties then Repair.

JohnBentleyRobinson
JohnBentleyRobinson Question owner

Thanks Matt.

Yes, that worked. Just all the messages sent to me by Mary Smith with no interlopers!

Marked your message as 'solved the problem'. Thanks again.