# Searching conversations

## Overview

Conversation history includes a search bar with two modes for finding messages across all your agent conversations.

Keyword search performs full-text matching and supports the same filters as the conversation list (time range, duration, ratings, tools, languages, and more). Smart search uses semantic search to match transcript chunks by meaning — useful when you don't know the exact phrasing a caller used.

<img src="../img/site-assets/fdr-prod-docs-files-public.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/elevenlabs.docs.buildwithfern.com/5a8ee4f43638200e84fc77961ee4388ea3a32314c03a7e74ffaba6acf695ee68/assets/images/conversational-ai/smart-search-conversation-history-yikgf0.png" alt="Conversation history search field with the search mode menu
open">

:::callout{intent="note"}
A query that matches a conversation id pattern (e.g. `conv_…`) searches for that conversation
directly instead of running search.
:::

## Keyword vs Smart search

| Mode         | How it matches                       | Filters                                       |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------- |
| Keyword      | Full-text / fuzzy on message content | All conversation filters available            |
| Smart search | Semantic similarity via embeddings   | Most filters disabled while a query is active |

The mode is stored in the URL so links are shareable and reload-safe. Default is keyword.

## API reference

- [Text search](/guides/changelog-api-reference-conversations-messages-text-search) — keyword / full-text
- [Smart search](/guides/changelog-api-reference-voices-search) — semantic search

## Related pages

- [Administration](./administration-index.md)
- [API reference](./api-reference-index.md)
- [Changelog](./changelog-index.md)
- [ElevenAgents](./elevenagents-index.md)
- [ElevenAPI](./elevenapi-index.md)
- [ElevenCreative](./elevencreative-index.md)
- [ElevenLabs Documentation Docs](../index.md)
- [General Troubleshooting FAQ](./troubleshooting-index.md)
- [General Website FAQ](./website-index.md)
- [Help Center](./help-center-2-index.md)

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