Search operators: the full reference

Every operator you can type in the search field, with examples, date formats, negation and limits.

Updated 18 October 2026 3 min read

Type an operator in the search field to filter as you search. Each one becomes a chip, the same as a filter chosen from Filter. Mix operators and ordinary words freely:

invoice from:saltmarshlinen.com is:unread

People and subject

Operator	Finds	Example
`from:`	Mail from a name, address or domain. `from:me` finds mail you sent.	`from:hannah`, `from:acme.com`, `from:me`
`to:`	Mail sent to a name, address or domain	`to:orders@korahome.co`
`cc:`	Mail with them in Cc	`cc:accounts`
`subject:`	A word in the subject	`subject:refund`

from:, to: and cc: match any name or address containing what you type.

Where

Operator	Finds	Example
`in:` + inbox name	One inbox	`in:support`
`in:spam`	Spam only. Also `in:junk`.	`in:spam`
`in:trash`	Trash only. Also `in:bin`.	`in:trash`
`in:anywhere`	Everywhere, with Spam and Trash. Also `in:all`.	`in:anywhere`

Without in:spam, in:trash or in:anywhere, Spam and Trash are left out.

State

Operator	Finds
`is:unread`	Unread conversations
`is:read`	Read conversations
`is:open`	Open conversations
`is:closed`	Archived conversations. `is:archived` and `is:done` do the same.
`is:snoozed`	Snoozed conversations
`is:assigned`	Assigned to anyone
`is:unassigned`	Assigned to nobody
`is:following`	Conversations you follow. Also `is:followed`.
`assignee:me`	Assigned to you
`assignee:none`	Assigned to nobody. Also `assignee:nobody`.
`assignee:` + name	Assigned to a teammate, for example `assignee:"Jonah Whitaker"`
`tag:` + name	Tagged with it. Also `label:`. For example `tag:vip`
`has:attachment`	With a file. Also `has:file`.
`has:note`	With an internal note. Also `has:comment`.

assigned: works the same as assignee:.

Dates

Operator	Finds
`after:`	On or after the date
`before:`	Before the date

A date can be written as:

Write	Means	Example
`YYYY-MM-DD`	That day, year first	`after:2026-09-01`
`today`	Today	`after:today`
`yesterday`	Yesterday	`after:yesterday`
A number and `h`, `d`, `w`, `m` or `y`	Hours, days, weeks, months or years back from now	`after:7d`, `before:1y`

after:2026-09-01 includes the 1st of September. before:2026-09-01 ends on the 31st of August.
after:7d is the last seven days. before:2w is older than two weeks.
Dates go by your own time zone.
Only year-first dates work. 01/02/2026 means different days in different countries, so it is refused with a note.

Phrases, values with spaces, and leaving things out

Write	Does	Example
`"…"`	Finds the exact phrase	`"oat tablecloth"`
`operator:"…"`	A value with spaces	`from:"Ada Obi"`, `tag:"Wholesale order"`
`-word`	Leaves out conversations with that word	`vase -dune`
`-operator:`	Leaves out what the operator finds	`-from:noreply`, `-tag:vip`

-before: works as after:, and -after: as before:. -in:spam and -in:trash change nothing, since Spam and Trash are already left out.

Operators from other mail apps

Some operators exist elsewhere but not in ZevInbox. Search tells you what to use instead:

You type	Use instead
`is:starred`, `is:important`	Follow the conversation and search `is:following`.
`is:spam`	`in:spam`
`is:trash`	`in:trash`
`is:sent`	`from:me`
`is:muted`	Unfollow the conversation instead.
`is:draft`	Drafts are not searched. Open Drafts to find one.

A word with a colon that is not an operator, like colour:sage, is searched as text, with a note saying so. Web addresses and subjects pasted in with Re: are searched as text without a note.

Limits

Limit
Length of a search	500 characters
Words and phrases	The first 12 are searched
Filters	The first 16 are applied

The last word you type also matches longer words that start with it, once it has two letters or more.

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