Twitter’s search bar for direct messages has been around for a long time. However, its search function has been limited. This week, Twitter has overhauled the DM search bar functionality, adding the ability for users to look up specific people’s names, words, or phrases.
This new feature has seemingly been rolled out to many if not all users at this point. Announced via the Twitter Support account, the upgraded search bar enables users to “find specific messages using keywords and names.”
Previously, users could type a name into their DM search bar to bring up a conversation with another person.
We know you’ve been waiting for the option to search your DMs…
Now you can use the search bar in your inbox to find specific messages using keywords and names. pic.twitter.com/A41G8Y45QI
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) March 23, 2022
Moving forward, names, words, and phrases, can be searched to bring up specific instances within a conversation. For instance, if you are searching for the name “Bob,” Twitter’s DM search bar will not only bring up anyone you’re following named Bob but also all groups that you and Bob are in. Results will also show any instance Bob’s name is brought up within messages.
Twitter has been slowly but steadily improving DM functionality. Last year, the social media platform integrated the ability to share a tweet across up to 20 DM conversations.
Twitter also added easy-to-read timestamps to conversations as well. An upgraded DM search bar was announced last year as Twitter added DM searches to Android.
As of now, it appears as though the new feature is primarily being pushed to iOS devices first. The updated search bar may not be functional on the web as well as on Android.
