iOS 26 search function in Messages not pulling up messages older than a specific date

Check Settings > Apple Account (at the very top of Settings) > Saved to iCloud > Messages. Is sync toggled on? It wasn’t for me. If not, toggle sync on and wait for all messages to sync. Then wait a few days for the search function to parse all your synced messages, and try searching again - worked for me! That was the specific issue in my case, but if that is not the issue for you, I would contact Apple Support.

SravanKra:

Note:

Correlation/causation may be in effect here, sure, but only because the root cause of the mentioned issue is unknown. It is a fact that the iOS update was a precursor to the mentioned issue materializing for me. I would argue that that information might be a rather valuable inclusion to anyone trying to understand/diagnose the issue, identify a root cause, and find a solution. The mere fact that you asked iOS update-related questions in your post confirms my suspicion this is true. In addition, the inclusion of iOS update-related information in this post might be useful to another iPhone user with some of the exact precursors I mentioned (i.e. iOS 26 update) who is searching for a root cause and subsequently a solution for the same exact same issue, even if other precursors or symptoms exist in their case.

If you read through my post again, I did not blame the iOS update for the search function's ineffectiveness nor was language ever used that implies the search function's ineffectiveness is attributable to the iOS update. My post simply informs the audience that the inconsistency in the search function's effectiveness was observed after the iOS update (aka, the update is a precursor to that issue in my specific case). I strongly believe I asked the question in a way that was not misleading, contrary to your interpretation of the information provided.

Goal:

I am simply looking for a solution to the mentioned issue. Neither your answer, or any of the posts you linked here provide a solution.

Answers to your questions:

• My phone is not jailbroken
• My phone backs up automatically via iCloud.

Questions I have:

Given the information that you requested, what do you suggest the "underlying, unmentioned factors" causing this issue are? What specific, functional action items do you recommend a user do when you say they should be "checking ... settings and addressing any device issues"?

Are you able to effectively identify and communicate in non pseudo-sagacious language a root cause to the mentioned issue and address it with a functional solution that is not based on wildly vague and generalized information?

Thanks,

borescopic

lobsterghost1:

The option selected under “Keep Messages” is “Forever”.

As I said in my post, I have message history from 2023 with a specific contact, and if I search any text exchange we’ve had, whether a message from them or myself, it does not come up in search results.

Thanks,

borescopic

lobsterghost1

The issue is with all contacts and not just one. I was using old messages with one specific contact as an example since I haven’t texted that contact since 2023.

In general, searching any keyword in the message search function yields results from any contact, as long as it is from ~ August 2025 to present day.

I am missing any search results from any/every contact before the beginning of that time period, and that is the issue.

Thanks,

borescopic