Search on iPad is the best place to start all your searches. Search can help you find apps and contacts, search inside of apps like Mail and Messages, find and open webpages, and quickly start a web search.

You can choose which apps you want to be included in search results. Search offers suggestions and updates results as you type.

Choose which apps to include in Search

  1. Go to Settings  > Siri & Search.

  2. Scroll down, tap an app, then turn Show in Search on or off.

Search with iPad

  1. Swipe down from the middle of the Home Screen.

  2. Tap the search field, then enter what you’re looking for.

  3. Do any of the following:

    • Hide the keyboard and see more results on the screen: Tap Go.

    • Open a suggested app: Tap it.

    • Get more information about a search suggestion: Tap it, then tap one of the results to open it.

    • Start a new search: Tap the Clear Text button in the search field.

  4. The iPad Home Screen showing a search. At the top is the search field with the search text “notes,” and below it are search results found for the target text.

Turn off Suggestions in Search

Go to Settings  > Siri & Search, then turn off Suggestions in Search.

Turn off Location Services for suggestions

  1. Go to Settings  > Privacy > Location Services.

  2. Tap System Services, then turn off Location-Based Suggestions.

Search in apps

Many apps include a search field or a search button so you can find something within the app. For example, in the Maps app, you can search for a specific location.

  1. In an app, tap the search field or button the Search button (if there is one).

    If you don’t see a search field or button, swipe down from the top.

  2. Type your search, then tap Search.

Add a dictionary

On iPad, you can add dictionaries, which can be used in searches.

  1. Go to Settings  > General > Dictionary.

  2. Select a dictionary.