---
schema_version: "1"
id: 0a41c92734c2079fe377ab2bf45f71b7591ee171532565bf096c2d99df5a7767
title: Refine Search Results in Salesforce Classic
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/ai/264-0-0/search_refine_a.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ai.search_refine_a.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 17629d62dd9ace43066e8348de844a55789289f0f739e104c36d69e7f7c8921e
description: Use these guidelines to sort and filter your results and quickly find records.
products:
  - Cross Cloud
release: "264"
---
# Refine Search Results in Salesforce Classic

Use these guidelines to sort and filter your results and quickly find records.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: Salesforce Classic</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: all editions except <strong>Database.com</strong></td></tr></tbody></table>

When you use the global search bar, you search through all objects and multiple fields types, including custom and long text fields, within a record. If you enter multiple terms, results containing all the search terms are returned, which can be many records! Here are some strategies to find the record that you're looking for after performing a full search.

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small ">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:14.684287812041116%">
          <col style="width:85.31571218795888%">
        </colgroup>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="text-align:left;vertical-align:top;">Search All</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="text-align:left;vertical-align:top;">Search defaults to return results for the objects that you use most frequently. To
              expand the search to other objects, use <strong class="uicontrol">Search All</strong>. If you don't have
              a <strong class="uicontrol">Search All</strong> option, global search doesn't have enough information
              about which objects you use. Your results include all objects until it has more
              information.</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="text-align:left;vertical-align:top;">Pin</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="text-align:left;vertical-align:top;">Hover over and pin important objects to the top of the search results object list in
              the sidebar. You can always unpin or reorder objects later. Pinning is helpful for objects
              that you don't use frequently.</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="text-align:left;vertical-align:top;">Filter</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="text-align:left;vertical-align:top;">
              <p>
                <span style="vertical-align:text-bottom;display:inline-block;"><img style="margin-bottom:0;" src="https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-ai-search-264-0-0-production-enus/6a28c936-3b68-4186-bc09-7ab905f33ef3/search/images/search_results_cex.png" alt="Show Filters in Salesforce Classic"></span>
              </p>
              <ul>
                <li>Use <strong class="uicontrol">Options...</strong> to restrict your search to items you own, if
                  available, to exact phrase searches, and to divisions, if your organization uses
                  them.</li>

                <li>Use <strong class="uicontrol">Show Filters</strong>, if available, to filter your search
                  results.</li>

                <li>Use <strong class="uicontrol">My Columns</strong>, if available, to customize which columns display
                  by customizing <strong class="uicontrol">Selected Fields</strong> from the <strong class="uicontrol">Available
                    Fields</strong>.</li>

              </ul>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Your admin determines the availability of filter fields and customizable columns in
                a search layout. If your admin didn’t create a search layout or if search layouts aren’t
                available for an object, you can’t filter search results or customize the columns in search
                results. Filters aren’t available in Customer Portals or partner portals.</p>
            </td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

## More Search Tips and Best Practices

Quickly get on the right search track with these tips.

- Limit the number of results by entering more specific search terms. For example, enter the full name and company, such as Mike Jones Salesforce or enter the last name and ZIP code, such as Jones 94123.
- Searching for a specific contact or opportunity? Get more targeted results by adding the account name to your search terms. For example, John Smith Acme or 200 Widgets Acme.
- Enter the complete search term.
- Check your spelling.
- If you recently created or updated the record, wait a few minutes for the record to be made searchable. If you can’t find your record after 15 minutes, contact your admin. Not all fields on a record are searchable.
- If a record is created or updated using bulk API, it may take more than 15 minutes for the record to be searchable. If you can't find such a record after waiting for a few hours, contact your admin.
- If you think the record isn’t appearing due to permission issues, check with your admin. You only see the records that you have access to.