Global Search Not Returning Expected Results
I am on TB 146.0.1.
I recently noticed that some items seemed to be missing from global search results so I ventured to rebuild the GLODA index.
The first few times, it seemed to get stuck on specific IMAP sent folders. I repaired the folders and eventually, the index completed to full success. It is about 2.5 GB.
It still doesn't seem like some searches are working correctly, but maybe there is an explanation. Most of my email other than IMAP sent emails is stored in my Local Archives.
Using the term "klinghardt" for example, global search shows only results from 2025, a total of 992 items, and does shows some from both IMAP and Local Archives. From Local Archives, it shows 255 items in the "From Visitors 2016" folder. It does not go back prior to 2025.
However, there are many earlier emails in that folder before 2025 with the same term.
Using the term "klinghardt education" does show messages back to 2017 and a total of 524 of them in the "From Visitors 2016" folder. Why would using just "klinghardt" show less than "klinghardt education"?
The "From Visitors 2016" folder has almost 140K messages from about 10 years.
If I go "From Visitors 2016" folder and do Search Messages with the same "klinghardt" term on subject alone, I get 982 returned messages that go back to 2015. I believe this is not using GLODA but am not certain.
If I go to Quick Filter on Sender, Recipients, Subject, I get 1251 items going back to 2015.
If I see messages over many years with Search Messages and Quick Filter, why do I only see messages from 2025 when I use the global search?
To make things a bit more complex, there is also a "From Visitors" folder in Local Archives that has hundreds more with terms from 2011-2015 that don't seem to show up in the global search results at all with either of the above. If I use "klinghardt academy" though, some results do come back from the "From Visitors" folder. Total of 32K messages in the From Visitors folder.
I have already tried many options from the documentation and suggested by ChatGPT but am hesitant to do anything that could not be reversible.
At this point, I am unclear on what here is a problem vs. an explainable behavior.
I would be grateful or any thoughts or next steps you might suggest.
Thank you and happy holidays, :) Scott
All Replies (4)
See https://support.mozilla.org/kb/rebuilding-global-database
My guess is the database and reality have become misaligned. Try rebuilding it and see if that fixes the issue. I find mine goes off the rails at least once a year.
It’s been fully rebuilt several times the last week and completes with a 2.4GB index file and no obvious errors. Any other ideas? Thank you
Is the folder you know these missing emails are in even included in the global index? Right click the folder select properties and then check the status of the folder in the general information tab.
Hi Matt,
The folder where results appear to be returned for "klinghardt" only for 2025 is in the Index as some results are returned. Just not older results before 2025. Other terms like "klinghardt education" in the same Local folder do return items prior to 2025.
So the folder is in the Index. The include in index checkbox is checked on the Folder -> Properties -> General tab.
Thank you!
You must log in to your account to reply to posts. Please start a new question, if you do not have an account yet.