# How to search inside a chat in TextPort for Mac

## Quick answer

In TextPort for Mac:

1. Open the chat from the list on the left.
2. Press **Command-F**. The **Find** bar opens at the top right of the chat.
3. Type a word. Each match is marked in yellow.
4. Press **Return** to go to the next match.
5. Press **Esc** to close the bar.

## What you need

- TextPort for Mac, set up with Messages access

## Steps

1. Click the chat

   It is in the list on the left. Its messages show on the right.

   Tip: Do not see it? See [how to find a chat](https://textport.com/guides/find-and-open-a-chat-on-mac.md).

2. Press **Command-F**

   Or choose **Edit › Find › Find…** in the menu bar. The **Find** bar opens at the top right of the chat.

3. Type a word

   Each match is marked in yellow. The one you are at is orange. The bar counts them, like **2/2**.

4. Press **Return**

   The chat moves to the next match. You can also click the two arrows in the bar.

   Tip: Press **Shift-Return** to go back one match.

5. Press **Esc**

   The bar closes and the marks go away. You can also click the x in the bar.

## Done

You are at the message you were looking for.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| The bar says **0/0**. | No message on screen has that word. Check the spelling, or try a shorter word. If you picked dates, click the date range in the toolbar, then **Reset**. |
| Nothing happens when you press **Command-F**. | Click a chat first, and wait for its messages to load. A chat with no messages cannot be searched. |
| There is no magnifying glass next to **Messages** and **Attachments**. | Newer versions of TextPort do not have it. Press **Command-F**, or choose **Edit › Find › Find…**. |
| You want to look in every chat. | Use **Search** at the top of the chat list. See [how to search all your chats](https://textport.com/guides/search-all-your-chats-on-mac.md). |
| 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. |

## Questions

### Does Find look at the whole chat?

It looks at the messages on screen. If you picked dates in the toolbar, it looks only at those days. Click the date range, then Reset, to look at every date.

### Do capital letters matter?

No. Searching for maya also finds Maya.

### Does it find part of a word?

Yes. Typing week also marks it inside weekend.

### Are there other keys?

Yes. Command-G goes to the next match. Shift-Command-G goes back one. Both are in the Edit menu under Find.

### Does Find work on the Attachments tab?

Find reads message text. When you press Command-F, TextPort goes back to the Messages tab.

### How do I find a chat, not a message?

Use Search at the top of the chat list. See [how to find a chat](https://textport.com/guides/find-and-open-a-chat-on-mac.md).

## Next guides

- [How to search all your chats in TextPort for Mac](https://textport.com/guides/search-all-your-chats-on-mac.md): You will find a message in any chat on your Mac and open it in its chat.
- [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 inside a chat with TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/search-inside-a-chat.md)
- On Windows: [How to find words in a conversation in TextPort for Windows](https://textport.com/guides/find-in-a-conversation-on-windows.md)

TextPort guide for Mac. Updated 2026-11-12. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/search-inside-a-chat-on-mac