No, strike that... I was too kind in the above message: It's NOT EVEN functional!

Like, I don't care that it takes time or consumes CPU, it should at least find all mails containing the keywords, but it just doesn't.

Did you actually have a support request, or you just venting? I see nothing here to assist you with at this point that is for sure. You have not even articulated what you search for, or which of the three search methods you use.

Well, with any luck, I'm not alone in having these issues and this forum should rightly be flooded with search complaints.

I'm searching for a word, using the search field, like 99% of people do probably, and then I don't see the mail I'm looking for in the result, but after 5 minutes, I'm manually able to find it.o

Well, with any luck, I'm not alone in having these issues and this forum should rightly be flooded with search complaints. I'm searching for a word, using the search field, like 99% of people do probably, and then I don't see the mail I'm looking for in the result, but after 5 minutes, I'm manually able to find it.o

I will ask again. Which of the three search methods are you using.

Global search (ctrl+K) Quick search (ctrl Shift + K) Or Search (Crtl+Shift +F)

then what are you searching for? "A word" tells me exactly nothing about what sort of search is failing for you! I type the word and into global search and get back thousands of results.

But really I know no more about you issue or how I might understand or replicate you issue that I did when I first read you initial post.

Oh. My. God.

You're literally the human embodiment of Thunderbird search, do you know that? You don't understand anything and don't find any answers either! XD

So far you have said search is crap and you are searching for a word.

re :I'm searching for a word, using the search field,

Neither Matt nor myself are sat beside you, so it is impossible to know your Thunderbird setup, whether you are searching pop or imap folders, what search method you are actually using or how you typed that word. This is why we need some info to try to understand what is going on.

Are you using 'Quick Filter Bar' search on a selected folder ? If yes, make sure you are not combining a search for word with another filter like unread. Have you got more filters operating than required?

Are you using the 'Global Search' located on the 'Mail Toolbar' ? Are you typing one word or two words ? Are those words typed in enclosed quotes like this: "bird" or like this: bird

Why is this important ? It effects the results. Type: bird Not using any quotes. The drop down options will offer 'Messages mentioning: bird' So you could get results for: bird, Thunderbird, blackbird

Type: "bird" using double quote The drop down options will offer 'Messages mentioning: bird' The results will show 'bird' or 'birds', but not 'Thunderbird'. Using double quotes around a word makes it more specific.

So what 'word' you typed and how you typed it is important when we need to understand why you are having a problem.

Are you using the 'Find' > 'Search Messages' option ? Please note you cannot search for 'From' display names you have created in the address book because those display names may not be in the headers of the actual email.

I'm presuming you are not using the Windows Search.

If you have an IMAP account, are you certain that all your folders have downloaded full copies of all emails, because if some folders have only downloaded headers then searching for a specific word in the content body may not work because there is no content downloaded.

check settings: Please check to see if you have the settings you desire for search.

• Right click on imap mail account in Folder Pane and select 'Settings'
• Select 'Synchronisation & Storage'
• Top right 'Message Synchronising' - select checkbox 'Keep messages in all folders for this account on this computer'
• Click on 'Advanced'
• Check folders and subfolders are selected for download
• click on OK

Under 'Disk Space' section

• Select 'synchronise all messages locally regardless of age'

• close Account Settings tab

Then run the download/sync now option:

• Menu app icon > File > Offline > Download/Sync now
• Select 'Mail messages'
• Note: the 'Select' button shows what is selected - you can use it to double check all is correct
• click on OK to run download synch

Do you compact folders on a regular basis to keep them in best health?

Oh. My. God. You're literally the human embodiment of Thunderbird search, do you know that? You don't understand anything and don't find any answers either! XD

Use windows search and see how you get on, it searches Thunderbird email. I am sure there is someone at Microsoft that is eager to get your feedback on it. They might even be paid to care.

But all I see is someone that does not want support. So to that end will recuse myself from this waste of time. You have been asked specific questions and failed entirely in responding to them, Toad Hall has now offered you a load of generic information about search because you have not as yet actually said what search method you use, let alone offered a steps to reproduce so someone might understand your specific situation. She may continue to try and offer support to you. But I am done.

Hopefully you can do better with Toad Hall, and answer her questions and get a good result, but a change in attitude from that currently displayed to actually offering information will be required for her to actually assist you further.

So far you have said search is crap and you are searching for a word. re :I'm searching for a word, using the search field, Neither Matt nor myself are sat beside you, so it is impossible to know your Thunderbird setup, whether you are searching pop or imap folders, what search method you are actually using or how you typed that word. This is why we need some info to try to understand what is going on.

You both post exhaustive answers, but I think you are so far removed from the perspective of a beginner user that you don't even realize it. Why on earth would I, as a new user, even know how to press any shortcuts, or type with quotes?

1. I install Thunderbird
2. I setup a mail account (Imap since you asked)
3. I see a search bar in the top right, and I type a single word into it (like I said from the beginning) and press enter
4. I see a results window and no matter how much I look, I can't find the right mail in it
5. I then scroll down in one of my folders and locate the mail that contains the word manually instead

Thank you for the additional comments, but all synchronization settings were already set as you recommended them to be, and downloading all messages did not help.

In fact, I located a string that's unique to this mail message (EXP35U538CW) and which I can clearly read in the mail and if I search for it using any of the three methods suggested it still won't come up.

Btw, as a new user I only see one of those methods by default, and after pressing ctrl + shift + K which made that additional search field permanently pop up, it still reads "filter" in my language so I would not expect to search using it.

Oh, and I do not "compact messages" or anything. I expect the app to do whatever it needs to do to stay in "best health". If that's a manual operation, that's also a serious shortcoming, imo.

re :Why on earth would I, as a new user, even know how to press any shortcuts, or type with quotes?.....pressing ctrl + shift + K which made that additional search field permanently pop up,

That is useful information. I'm providing some useful links to Help Articles. Thunderbird has three different method of searching and depending upon what you are trying to achieve, you use the appropriate type of search.

'Ctrl+Shift+K' - this opened the 'Quick Filter Bar' for you. It can also be enabled via: 'Menu app icon' (icon has 3 horizontal bars) > 'Customise' > select 'Quick Filter Bar'

The 'Quick filter Bar' offers various filters including a Search, but it only works on the currently selected folder. Note: Enclosing word in quotes in the search option has no effect in this particular search.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/quick-filter-toolbar

You mention you tried this method to search for "a string that's unique to this mail message (EXP35U538CW)". I'm assuming you see that EXP35U538CW in the body and not in the Subject. I have been looking into this particular issue and did notice that if the email had been encloded using: Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 then the search cannot locate it because the content in the actual email sent as seen via 'View Source' does not contain the same as you see when you view the email itself.

To check this out: Select the email, so you see the contents in the bottom 'Message Pane'. Either: Click on 'More' located in the header area and select 'View Source' OR: 'Menu app icon' > 'View' > select 'Message Source' OR: use shortcut keys 'Ctrl+U'

scroll down to: Content-Type: text/plain; Also check: Content-Type: text/html; do you see a line that mentions 'base64' : Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 If yes, notice how the content appears as a load of letters and numbers and looks nothing like the content you see in the actual message. This would explain why you cannot search the content for a specific number/letter sequence.

Do you see this ?

For the email you are trying to search - is it only sent in plain text and using base64? Content-Type: text/plain; Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64

There is no mention of Content-Type: text/html;

OR in Quick Filter Search - did you search for EXP35U538CW, but by chance did not select to include 'Body' filter?

When searching using Global Search - You typed EXP35U538CW and then selected drop down option 'Messages mentioning: EXP35U538CW' Did you get no results at all? Did you get too many results? Was the folder that contains that email selected to be included in Global Search (see info below)? Did the search appear to be still searching like it was stuck?

General info on 'Global Search' The 'Global Search' is located on the 'Mail Toolbar' The 'Global Search' will search through all accounts and all folders, but usually with the exception of Trash, Junk or any other folder not included.

How to check if folder is included in Global Search:

• Right click on folder in Folder Pane and select 'Properties'
• there is a checkbox which, if selected, includes that folder in Global Search. 'Include messages in this folder in Global Search results'

How to switch Global Search on/off:

• Menu app icon > Options/Preferences > General
• Scroll to the bottom
• 'Indexing' section
• To enable/switch on select checkbox 'Enable Global Search and Indexer'

Help Article:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/global-search

Note: using quotes around words can help to make it more specfic. the results can then be more refined using the filters in left pane or using the date range graph.

On occasions, it is necessary to rebuild the global database, especially if you are consistantly not getting results. I would recommend you compact folders first to clean up files. Select account name folder in Folder Pane Menu app icon > File > Compact Folders The info in Status bar - at the bottom - will say what it is compacting and how much space recovered,

Rebuilding the Global Database

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database

Note: quick way to locate profile mentioned below In Thunderbird

• Menu app icon > Help > Troubleshooting Information
• Under 'Application Basics' - about 8th in list 'Profile Folder' - click on 'Open Folder'

This open a new window showing the contents of your profile name folder.

• Exit Thunderbird now - this is important.
• Locate and delete this file: global-messages-db.sqlite
• Start Thunderbird and just allow it a bit of time to rebuild the index.

Thanks again for the extensive help, but here's the deal:

A user shouldn't have to deal with all that.

You type something into search, it should find it.

Was a part of a message? I don't care. Was it located in a different folder? Why should it matter. Was it a part of an address? So what.

It should just work!

I like Mozilla and I've donated to both Firefox and Thunderbird, but I just can't anymore.

I've moved to a commercial e-mail client, and guess what it did?

It found everything I searched for on my first attempt, without having to jump through any hoops.

Glad you are happy with your new client.