---
title: "Search posts, files, and chat messages"
description: "Search posts in the Newsfeed, files in the Drive, and messages in a chat conversation, using keywords, operators, and filters."
category: getting-started
section: navigation-basics
alsoIn: [communication/news-feed-and-posts]
type: Tutorial
lastUpdated: 2026-08-11
locale: en
canonical: https://support.talkspirit.com/en/getting-started/search-posts-files-and-messages
---

# Search posts, files, and chat messages


The Talkspirit search finds posts, files, and chat messages across the content you can access. You search posts from the field at the top of the **Newsfeed**, files from the **Drive**, and messages from inside a chat conversation. Each field offers operators and filters to narrow your results. To search your organisation's structure, members, and Goals, use the global search instead.

## How do I search for posts?

The search field at the top of your **Newsfeed** searches posts. The same field is available on a group's home page.

1. Select the search field. Its placeholder reads **Search posts…**.
2. Enter a keyword or phrase.
3. Refine your results with the suggested operators: `from:` (author), `label:`, `#` (hashtag), `before:` and `after:` (dates), or an exact expression in quotation marks.

Quick filters limit results to **Users posts**, **Integrations posts**, or **Important messages**.

> **Tip:** Press `Cmd+K` (macOS) or `Ctrl+K` (Windows) to move the cursor to the search field on the page you are viewing.

![The newsfeed search field with the operators panel open, showing from:, label:, group: and # operators.](/images/getting-started/search-posts-files-and-messages/newsfeed-search.png)

## How do I search for files?

Files are searched from the **Drive**, which uses the same search field.

1. Open **Drive** from the navigation rail.
2. Select the search field. Its placeholder reads **Search files…**.
3. Enter a keyword to find files.

![The Drive search field with the operators panel open.](/images/getting-started/search-posts-files-and-messages/drive-search.png)

## How do I search a chat conversation?

Open a conversation in **Chat**, then open its search field to find messages.

1. Open a conversation in **Chat**.
2. Select **Search** in the conversation header.
3. Enter a keyword in the search field.
4. Turn on **Search all conversations** to search every conversation, or **Search files only** to limit results to shared files.

![Chat search mode with the Search all conversations and Search files only toggles and highlighted matches.](/images/getting-started/search-posts-files-and-messages/chat-search.png)

## Next steps

- [Using the search in Talkspirit](/getting-started/how-to-use-the-search)
- [Using the Newsfeed](/communication/using-the-newsfeed)
- [Using hashtags](/communication/using-hashtags)
- [Working with labels](/communication/working-with-labels)