Issues with folders searching with the iOS app - missing search results.
 

How does folder/global searching work in the iOS app?

I've started using the iOS app regularly, and at first I was delighted by the global folder search capability.

Then a few days later, I realized that it didn't seem to work. Until I realized that it was only searching the current folder. I couldn't figure out how to do a global search again. I found a workaround - click on a saved search that I had that was global. It worked, and now all searches are global.

I have no idea what caused it to switch from global to current folder only. What would it be other than using advanced search? I've realized that another way to switch is to go into advanced search. But I don't think either of those was what caused the switch that left me confused and frustrated for a couple days because I was thinking some replies I expected hadn't arrived even though they had. What else could it have been?

In future, I know to look for folder names in results. If there aren't any, it's not a global search. Tip!

On my iPhone 7 Plus with the Fastmail iOS app, I see search results from "All mail" unless I force a specific folder (in Advanced search). I'm not sure why you get different results. Are you using the Production backend in Settings>Fastmail?

Bill

On a large iPad using the Fastmail iOS app, the screen looks similar to a PC web browser, and there is a Searching > All mail / Folder selection tool at the top after you execute the search. On a small iOS device (such as even the largest iPhone), there is less room and that folder selection tool isn't present, so you must go to the Advanced search to force a search in a single folder.

One trap is that on small iOS devices (such as the iPhone), you must use the Return key to execute the search entry (rather than the Done key). That's due to how the iOS keyboard works.

As long as I use Return to terminate a search entry, it always searches in All mail unless I force a search in a single folder (in Advanced Search, for example).

Bill