---
key: search-for-anything
title: Search for anything
audience: staff
section: getting-started
routes: ["/search"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: Find customers, work orders, invoices, messages, files, help articles and pages from the search box, then narrow the results with filters.
keywords: [search, find, lookup, look up, omnibox, quick find, recent, filters, phone number, invoice number]
related: [find-your-way-around]
---

Select **Search** (the magnifying glass) in the top bar of any page, or press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on a Mac). The search panel opens over the page. For more room and filters, press **See all** in the panel (**Advanced** on a phone) to open the search page. The page address is `/search`.

## Steps

1. Type at least two characters. Nova searches as you type.
2. Try whatever you remember: a name, a number like INV-1042, a phone number, an email address, a street, or words from a note or message.
3. Select a result to open it. The top result is marked **Best match**.
4. To see only one area, select it in the row of chips, for example **Billing**. Select **Pages & Actions** to find a page or a "new" action instead of a record.
5. Press **See all** to carry the same words to the search page. There, select **Filters** to narrow the results further:
   - **Record type** and **Status** show only the kinds and states you pick.
   - **Customer** shows one customer and everything under it: their work orders, quotes, invoices, messages and files.
   - **Last updated** keeps results changed between two dates.
   - **Include archived records** adds archived items back in.
   - Under **Order and size**, choose **Best match** or **Recently updated**.
6. Select **Clear filters** to start over with the same words.

## What you see

- With an empty search box, **Recently accessed** lists the records and pages you opened most recently, newest first, in the panel and on the search page.
- Results only include what your role lets you open. If you expected something and it is missing, ask your admin whether your role can see that area.
- If your organization has more than one branch, choose between your branch and **All branches** at the top of the panel or the search page. **See all** keeps the same words and branch choice.

## If something looks different

- A record you just saved can take a moment to appear in search. The search page says so while it is still being added.
- If Nova says search isn't available right now, wait a moment and try again. Your records are safe; only searching is paused.