# How to search all your chats in TextPort for Mac

## Quick answer

In TextPort for Mac:

1. Click **Search** at the top of the chat list.
2. Type a word. Two letters are enough.
3. Click **When** or **Chats** to narrow it, if you need.
4. Click a message under **Messages**.

The chat opens at that message.

## What you need

- TextPort for Mac, set up with Messages access

## Steps

1. Click **Search**

   It is at the top of the chat list on the left.

2. Type a word

   Type two letters or more. Messages with the word show under **Messages**. The word is marked in yellow.

   Tip: Type a name to find a chat. It shows under **Chats**.

3. Click **When** to pick dates

   This step is optional. Pick a time, like **Last 30 Days**. Only those messages stay.

   Tip: **Chats** picks the chats. **More** picks who sent it, or group chats only.

4. Click a message

   Each result shows the chat name and the date. The chat opens on the right.

5. Read around it

   The chat is at that message. It glows for a moment. The results stay on the left.

## Done

You found the message and can read the chat around it.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **No results** | Check the spelling, or try a new word. Type the start of the word. If filters are on, click **Clear Filters**. |
| **No messages match.** | A chat has that name, but no message has the word. Click the chat under **Chats**, or try another word. |
| **No results yet** | TextPort is still getting your chats ready to search. Wait a moment. The results show by themselves. |
| **More results may appear** | Some chats are not ready yet. Wait a moment. The list fills in by itself. |
| **Some chats aren’t ready** | TextPort could not read every chat this time. Results may miss some chats. Quit TextPort and open it again. Then search again. |
| **Couldn’t search** | Click **Try Again**. |
| The date range in the toolbar changed. | A result opens the whole chat, so your dates went back. [Pick your dates again](https://textport.com/guides/filter-a-chat-by-date-on-mac.md). |
| The chat list is gone. | Search is still on. Click the x in **Search**. Every chat shows again. |
| None of these match. | Email [support@textportapp.com](mailto:support@textportapp.com). Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day. |

## Tips

- To see the newest messages first, click **Most Relevant**. Click **Newest**.

## Questions

### Does search look inside every chat?

Yes. It looks in every chat saved in Messages on this Mac. It also reads the transcripts that Messages made for voice messages.

### Does it find part of a word?

It finds words that start with what you type. **week** finds weekend. It does not find words that only end with it.

### Do the filters stay on?

No. They go back when you clear the Search box.

### Does search send my words anywhere?

No. TextPort keeps its search list on this Mac and searches it there.

### Can I search just one chat?

Yes. Open the chat and press Command-F. See [how to search inside a chat](https://textport.com/guides/search-inside-a-chat-on-mac.md).

## Next guides

- [How to search inside a chat in TextPort for Mac](https://textport.com/guides/search-inside-a-chat-on-mac.md): You will find a word in a chat and go to each place it shows.
- [How to find and open a chat in TextPort for Mac](https://textport.com/guides/find-and-open-a-chat-on-mac.md): You will have the chat you want open on the right side of TextPort.
- [How to filter a chat by date in TextPort for Mac](https://textport.com/guides/filter-a-chat-by-date-on-mac.md): You will see, export, or print only the messages from the days you pick.

## On other platforms

- On iPhone: [How to search all your chats with TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/search-all-your-chats.md)
- On Windows: [How to search all your messages in TextPort for Windows](https://textport.com/guides/search-all-your-messages-on-windows.md)

TextPort guide for Mac. Updated 2026-11-12. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/search-all-your-chats-on-mac