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Gmail search chips are quick filters that appear beneath the search box after you run a search. On desktop, enter a word, sender, or other criterion, press Enter, then select a chip—such as From, Any time, or Has attachment—to narrow the results. If the right chip is not available, use Gmail’s advanced search or search operators.
What Gmail search chips are—and what Google announced in 2022
Search chips are clickable filters for refining a Gmail search. Google described them as part of a broader Gmail interface update on July 27, 2022, saying the change would bring chips to the inbox alongside improved results that suggest a best match. The announcement’s broad framing was about bringing chips to users; it does not establish that every account, interface, or chip has identical availability today. Nor does it establish that chips were first introduced on that date. Google’s 2022 Gmail interface announcement was authored by Neena Kamath, Product Manager at Google.
How to use search chips in Gmail on desktop
- Open Gmail and enter a search criterion in the search box, such as a sender’s name or a project keyword.
- Press Enter to show matching results.
- Select a chip beneath the search box to narrow the results by that attribute. For example, search for a project name and then select a sender or date chip.
Google’s current Gmail search help documents chips including From, Any time, Has attachment, Exclude Calendar updates, To, Is unread, and Is encrypted. If you use Chat in Gmail, the help page also lists Mail, Conversations, and Spaces chips. Which chips you see can depend on the Gmail interface and context.
Choose the right search method
| Method | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Search chips | Quickly applying a visible filter to results | Run a search, then choose a chip beneath the search box. |
| Advanced search | Building a search from several form fields or changing its scope | Select Show search options and fill fields such as From, To, Subject, Has the words, Doesn’t have, Size, or Date within. |
| Search operators | Writing compact, precise queries that can be combined | Enter supported query syntax in the search box. Gmail Help provides examples for sender, date range, and attachments. |
Chips are convenient when the filter you need is visible. Advanced search exposes more fields, while operators let you combine conditions directly in the query. Gmail Help documents all three approaches; use the one that fits the search rather than assuming every filter has a chip.
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Find an attachment, a message from someone, or an older email
- Find messages from someone: Search for a name or address, then use the From chip if it appears. For more control, use the From field in advanced search.
- Find a message with a file: Search for a subject or keyword and choose Has attachment, or use Gmail’s attachment search operator as described in Help.
- Find an older message: Start with a useful keyword or sender, then choose Any time to refine by date. Advanced search also includes a Date within field, and Gmail supports date-range operators.
- Find unread mail: Run a search and choose Is unread if available, or use the corresponding field or operator.
The examples above describe ways to combine documented search controls; they are not guarantees about which chip appears for every query.
Why a message may not appear in search
A standard Gmail search omits Spam and Trash by default. If you think a message is in either folder, open Show search options and change the search scope to include them. Google’s instructions for this behavior are in Gmail Help.
Search suggestions also have a personalization context. Google says suggestions may use account information such as contacts, labels, messages, and past searches. Gmail Help says search terms are saved to improve future suggestions when Web & App Activity is turned on, and that Gmail search history can be cleared across devices. This describes documented behavior for suggestions and search history; it does not mean chips require a separate setting.
Where did Gmail’s search filters go?
On desktop, run a search first: the documented workflow places chips beneath the search box after you press Enter. For a broader set of filters, select Show search options in the search area. Chip placement and availability may differ across interfaces, so use advanced search or operators when you cannot find the control you need.
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What Google’s 2022 search-suggestions update covered
Google also published a separate July 27, 2022 post about more contextual Gmail search suggestions, including name and email matching informed by historical exchanges. That post described a gradual rollout of up to 15 days beginning July 27, 2022, for specified Workspace editions and personal Google Accounts, with some editions excluded. Those rollout details apply to the search-suggestions update described in that post, not to search chips. Google Workspace Updates: Better search and suggestion options in Gmail.
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