---
title: Search syntax
description: Every word, operator and filter you can type in workspace search, the values each filter takes, and the problem messages search shows.
---

This page lists what you can type in the workspace search box. To learn how to use search, see [Search your workspace](/guide/search/search-your-workspace).

## Words and operators

| You type | It means |
| --- | --- |
| `invoice` | A word with no filter. It is free text: it matches the places listed under [Free text](#free-text). |
| `"quarterly report"` | A phrase in quotes. It matches those words together, in that order. Case does not matter. |
| `invoice march` | A space means AND. Results must match both. |
| `invoice AND march` | The same as a space. |
| `invoice OR receipt` | Results may match either one. |
| `NOT draft` or `-draft` | Leaves out results that match. |
| `(invoice OR receipt) march` | Parentheses group parts of a search. You can nest them at most 5 levels deep. |

- **Filters** are a key, a colon and a value, such as `from:sam`. Keys are not case-sensitive.
- **Values with a fixed list of choices must match one choice exactly.** Case does not matter. For example, `is:read` never matches unread mail.
- **Comparisons** (`>`, `>=`, `<`, `<=`) work only on dates and sizes, for example `size:>10mb` or `modified:<2026-01-01`.
- **A search is one line, up to 500 characters.** Line breaks you paste become spaces.
- **A filter that does not apply to a kind of result leaves that kind out.** For example, `from:sam` searches only mail, because events, files and the rest have no sender.

## Free text

A word with no filter matches different things for each kind of result.

| Kind | Free text matches |
| --- | --- |
| Mail | The subject, preview, sender and recipients, using your mail provider's own search |
| Events | The title, description, location, guests and organizer |
| Files | The file or folder name. On Google Drive, also the text inside files. |
| Chats | The title, and the message text of your 40 most recent chats |
| Everything else | The name or email address |

## Filters

| Filter | What it matches | Applies to |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `type:` | One kind of result. See [Types](#types). | Everything |
| `after:` | On or after a date | Mail, events, files, chats, members, workflows, workflow runs, subscriptions |
| `before:` | Before a date | The same as `after:` |
| `on:` | During one day, month or year | The same as `after:` |
| `mailbox:` | One mailbox, by its short name in the page address or its email address | Mail, mail folders, labels, mailboxes |
| `calendar:` | One calendar account | Events, calendars |
| `drive:` | One drive | Files, drives |
| `from:` | Sent by | Mail, subscriptions |
| `to:` | Sent to | Mail |
| `cc:` | Copied to | Mail |
| `subject:` | Words in the subject line | Mail |
| `filename:` | The name of an attached file | Mail |
| `has:attachment` | Mail with an attachment | Mail |
| `mail-folder:` | One mail folder: `inbox`, `sent`, `drafts`, `starred`, `trash`, `archive` or `spam` | Mail |
| `label:` | Mail with a label | Mail |
| `attendee:` | An invited guest | Events |
| `organizer:` | The person who organized it | Events |
| `location:` | Where it happens | Events |
| `title:` | The title | Events, chats |
| `sub-calendar:` | One calendar inside a calendar account, by its name | Events, calendars |
| `name:` | The name | Files, members, contacts, workflows, mailboxes, calendars, drives, mail folders, labels, subscriptions |
| `ext:` | The file extension, such as `pdf` | Files |
| `kind:` | The kind of file. See [File kinds](#file-kinds). | Files |
| `size:` | The file size. See [Sizes](#sizes). | Files |
| `modified:` | When the file last changed. `modified:2026-01` means during that month. Add `>` or `<` to compare, as in `modified:>2026-01-01`. | Files |
| `drive-folder:` | The name of the folder the file is in. It matches the folder's name, not a path. | Files |
| `email:` | The email address | Members, contacts, connections |
| `role:` | The workspace role: `owner`, `admin` or `member` | Members |
| `workflow:` | The name of the workflow a run belongs to | Workflow runs |
| `status:` | The run's status: `pending`, `running`, `completed`, `partial`, `failed`, `blocked` or `cancelled` | Workflow runs |
| `provider:` | The provider. See [Providers](#providers). | Mailboxes, calendars, drives, connections |
| `is:` | A state. See [States](#states). | Mail, events, files, members, workflows, connections |

The keys `in:` and `folder:` do not exist. Search marks them and shows "Use mail-folder: or drive-folder:".

## Types

`type:` takes one of these values.

| Value | Finds |
| --- | --- |
| `mail` | Email messages |
| `event` | Calendar events |
| `file` | Files and folders in your drives |
| `chat` | Your own Workspace AI chats |
| `member` | Members of the workspace, and pending invites if you are an owner or admin |
| `contact` | People from your recent sent and received mail |
| `workflow` | Workflows |
| `run` | Workflow runs |
| `mailbox` | The workspace's mailboxes |
| `calendar` | The workspace's calendar accounts and the calendars inside them |
| `drive` | The workspace's drives |
| `mail-folder` | The folders of each mailbox |
| `label` | Mail labels |
| `connection` | Your own connected accounts that this workspace uses |
| `subscription` | Senders you get regular mail from, such as newsletters. They appear only when you type `type:subscription`. |
| `command` | Commands, such as **Compose mail** |
| `setting` | Settings pages |
| `workspace` | Your other workspaces |

## States

`is:` takes these values. Each one applies to one kind of result.

| Kind | Values |
| --- | --- |
| Mail | `unread`, `read`, `starred`, `scheduled`, `snoozed`, `readlater`, `muted` |
| Events | `accepted`, `declined`, `tentative` (your answer) |
| Files | `pinned` |
| Members | `invited` (pending invites) |
| Workflows | `enabled`, `disabled` |
| Connections | `quarantined` (the account needs reconnecting) |

## File kinds

`kind:` takes `folder`, `file`, `image`, `pdf`, `document`, `spreadsheet`, `presentation`, `video`, `audio`, `archive` or `text`.

## Providers

`provider:` takes `google`, `microsoft`, `zoho`, `imap`, `caldav`, `cloudflare`, `resend`, `s3`, `webdav`, `ftp` or `sftp`.

## Dates

`after:`, `before:`, `on:` and `modified:` take a date.

| Value | Means |
| --- | --- |
| `today`, `yesterday`, `tomorrow` | That day |
| `7d`, `2w`, `3m`, `1y` | That many days, weeks, months or years ago |
| `2026-01-31` | One day |
| `2026-01` | One month |
| `2026` | One year |

- `after:` means on or after the start of that day, month or year. `after:7d` means the last 7 days.
- `before:` means before the start of that day, month or year.
- `on:` means during that day, month or year. With a relative value such as `on:7d`, it means that one day.
- For a range, use both: `after:2026-01-01 before:2026-02-01`.
- Dates use your own time zone.

What the date is depends on the kind of result:

| Kind | The date search uses |
| --- | --- |
| Mail | When it was sent or received |
| Events | When the event starts |
| Files | When the file last changed |
| Chats | When the chat was last updated |
| Members | When they joined, or when they were invited |
| Workflows | When the workflow last changed |
| Workflow runs | When the run started |
| Subscriptions | When the latest message arrived |

## Sizes

`size:` takes a number and a unit: `b`, `kb`, `mb`, `gb` or `tb`. Each unit is 1024 times the one before.

| You type | Finds files |
| --- | --- |
| `size:5mb` | Of at least 5 MB |
| `size:>10mb` | Larger than 10 MB |
| `size:<100kb` | Smaller than 100 KB |

## Problem messages

When part of a search cannot be used, search underlines it with a wavy red line and shows the first problem in red under the box. In these messages, `key` stands for the key you typed.

| Message | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| "This part of the search can't be read" | Check the underlined part for a stray character or a missing value. |
| "Finish the search: close every quote and parenthesis." | Add the closing `"` or `)`. |
| "Use mail-folder: or drive-folder:" | Replace `in:` or `folder:` with `mail-folder:` or `drive-folder:`. |
| "There is no key: filter" | Check the spelling, or pick a key from the suggestions. |
| "Add a value after key:" | Type a value after the colon. |
| "key: does not compare with < or >" | Remove the `<` or `>`. Only dates and sizes compare. |
| "key: does not take a range" | Remove the range. For dates, use `after:` and `before:`. |
| "key: does not take a pattern" | Use a word instead. |
| "key: takes" and a list of values | Use one of the values listed. |
| "key: takes a date such as 2026-01-31, today or 7d" | Use one of the [date formats](#dates). |
| "key: takes a size such as 5mb or 200kb" | Use one of the [size formats](#sizes). |
| "Searches are limited to 500 characters" | Make the search shorter. |
| "Parentheses nest at most 5 levels deep" | Use fewer levels of parentheses. |