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How do I search deleted messages in Google's Gmail?

Google makes a big deal about how you should keep all your email when you're a Gmail user, because it's easy to search through your archives, however big they may get. What I can't figure out, however, is how to search my deleted email!


Dave's Answer:

You're right that it's subtle to figure out how to get search results in Gmail. Even the obvious step of going to the "Trash" folder then doing a search results in searches that are showing the results everywhere but your Trash folder!

To figure out how to search your deleted messages, you need to have eagle eyes and really pay attention to the grayed-out text in the search results. Here, let me show you. I'll do a search for "mac os x" in my Gmail folder by entering that text in the search box:

Google Gmail: Search: Mac OS X

Click on "Search Mail" and you'll get search results:

Google Gmail: Search: Mac OS X: Results

This can go on for quite a ways, but the critical thing is to scroll to the bottom, where you'll see:

Google Gmail: Search: Mac OS X: Results

Notice the area I've circled, where it says "Deleted messages match your search" then has a link to View them. Click that and you'll have successfully found the results of your search in your deleted message folder in Gmail.

Of course, you can take the geeky way too, click on "Show search options" and you'll see a far more sophisticated set of filters for a search:

Google Gmail: Advanced Search Options

The "Search" "All Mail" has the option of limiting your search to just "Trash" or, the most useful, "Mail & Spam & Trash". A bit more complicated, but if you want to move into the world of power Gmail users, that's the path to get there!


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Categorized: Google Gmail Help   (Article 7651, Written by )
Tagged: google gmail
Previous: What does it mean to "mute" a message in Gmail?
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Reader Comments To Date: 8

VernoWhitney said, on December 6, 2007 1:59 PM:

You can also simply add the parameter "in:trash" (so the full search from above would then be "in:trash mac os x") to the search to look in just the trash (or add "in:anywhere" to look well, anywhere)

neha gupta said, on May 2, 2009 3:20 AM:

by mistake i deleted my gmail email from trash also can u help me to find out anyhow its damn important

satish said, on October 29, 2010 10:15 AM:

by mistake i deleted my gmail email from trash also can u help me to find out anyhow its damn important

Ronald-El said, on May 23, 2011 4:50 PM:

Girlfiend,fiance,wife, deleted entire email account with help from enmie, how to retrieve?

Nestor Tambor said, on August 15, 2011 5:19 PM:

I deleted some messages and I don't know how to retrieve them - please HELP!

susan boozer said, on March 9, 2012 11:42 AM:

I cannot find the trash option on gmail page to read deleted mail

Dave Taylor said, on March 13, 2012 10:14 AM:
vinisha said, on August 12, 2012 1:28 AM:

by mistake i hv deleted my important mail,hw to get that mail?itz very important

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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