Global Search
Global Search is the fastest way to find anything in Salesforce. It searches across all objects — Leads, Contacts, Clients, Properties, and more.
Using Global Search
Screenshot needed: The global search bar with instant results dropdown showing recent and matching records
- Click the search bar at the top of the screen (or press Cmd + /)
- Start typing a name, phone number, email, or keyword
- Instant results appear as you type, showing recent and matching records
- Press Enter to see full search results across all objects
Search Results
Screenshot needed: The full search results page showing Top Results and object-specific tabs with filter panel
The full search results page shows matches grouped by object type:
- Top Results — Salesforce's best guesses across all objects
- Object tabs — click tabs like Leads, Contacts, Clients to filter results to one object type
- Result count — shows how many matches were found in each object
Filtering Results
On the search results page you can:
- Click an object tab to narrow results to that type
- Use the filter panel on the left to add conditions (e.g. "Lead Status = New")
- Sort results by relevance or other fields
What Gets Searched
Global Search looks at many fields including:
- Name fields — first name, last name, full name
- Email addresses
- Phone numbers
- Custom fields marked as searchable by your admin
Search Tips
| Tip | Example |
|---|---|
| Partial names work | Typing "John" finds "John Smith" and "Johnny" |
| Phone numbers | Search by full or partial phone number |
| Wildcard (*) | "Sm*" finds Smith, Small, Smithson |
| Exact phrases | Use quotes: "123 George Street" |
Recent Items
Before you even type, clicking the search bar shows your recent items — records you've recently viewed or edited. This is often the fastest way to get back to something you were just working on.
Lookup Fields
When filling in a lookup field (a field that links to another record), the same search logic applies:
- Click in the lookup field
- Start typing to search
- Recent matches and search results appear
- Click the correct record to select it
If no results appear, try fewer characters or check spelling.
Tips
- Search is not case-sensitive — "smith" and "Smith" return the same results
- Use the most unique identifier — an email address or phone number will find records faster than a common name
- If you can't find a record, it might be owned by another user — check the "All" list views rather than "My" views
- Newly created records may take a few moments to appear in search results