Conversation Search & Filters
- How the advanced filtering system works with AND/OR logic
- How to create individual filters and filter groups
- How to sort conversations by different fields and directions
- How to clear and apply your filter configuration
The Inbox includes an advanced filtering system for the conversation list. You can combine multiple conditions with AND/OR logic, group filters together, and sort results by any available field. It is accessible by clicking the Filter button in the top toolbar of the Inbox. (For searching by contact name or message text, use the quick-search bar instead.)
Opening the filter panel
- Navigate to the Inbox.
- Click the Filter button in the top toolbar. If filters are already active, a badge on the button shows the count of active filters.
- The advanced filter panel opens, revealing all available filtering and sorting controls.
Building filters with AND/OR logic
The filtering system supports two logical operators for combining conditions:
- AND -- All conditions must be true for a conversation to appear in the results. Use this when you want to narrow your list down precisely.
- OR -- At least one condition must be true. Use this when you want to broaden your results to include conversations matching any of several criteria.
You can toggle between AND and OR logic using the logic toggle at the top of the filter panel.
Adding individual filters
Click the Filter button within the filter panel to add a new filter condition. Each filter lets you specify:
- Field -- The conversation attribute to filter by (for example, channel, group flag, last message date, or creation date). Channel matches by its record reference, not a typed name.
- Operator -- How to compare the field (for example, equals, contains, is greater than, is before a date).
- Value -- The specific value to match against.
You can add as many individual filters as you need. They are combined using the logic operator (AND or OR) you selected.
Adding filter groups
Click the Subgroup button to create a nested filter group. A group is a set of filters evaluated together as a single unit, with its own AND/OR logic. Groups can be nested up to three levels deep, letting you build queries such as:
Show conversations where (channel is the WhatsApp channel AND last message date is today) OR (channel is the Instagram channel AND creation date is this week)
This nested structure controls which conversations appear in the list.
Sorting results
Below the filter conditions, you will find the sorting controls:
- Field selector -- Choose the field to sort by. Common options include:
- Updated at -- Sort by when the conversation was last active.
- Other available fields depending on your configuration.
- Direction toggle -- Choose the sort order:
- Ascending -- Oldest or smallest values first (A to Z, earliest to latest).
- Descending -- Newest or largest values first (Z to A, latest to earliest).
Applying and clearing filters
Once you have configured your filters and sorting:
- Click the Apply button to run the filter and update the conversation list with matching results.
- Click the Clear button to remove all filters and sorting rules. Clear takes effect immediately, returning the list to its default unfiltered state.
The badge on the Filter button counts the active filter conditions plus any sort rules, so you can tell at a glance that the list is filtered.
Practical examples
| Goal | Filter setup |
|---|---|
| Find conversations on one WhatsApp channel | Filter: channel equals the WhatsApp channel |
| See conversations updated today | Filter: last message date is today; sort by "Updated at" descending |
| Broad search across channels | Filter: channel equals one channel OR channel equals another channel |
If your conversation list looks unexpectedly empty or shows fewer results than expected, check the filter badge on the Filter button. Leftover filters from a previous session are a common cause. Click Clear to reset the list.