How to Search for Outbound Messages Using Filters

The **Messages** page lists every message your agency has sent and received. The **Search Messages** panel on the left narrows that list down to the outbound messages you need, and the results can then be exported, forwarded, or resent.

### Overview

Outbound message filters help you locate specific sent messages across your agency's communication history. You combine a **Direction** of **Outbound** with filters such as **Status**, **Channel**, **Type**, **Error Code**, **Language**, and a scheduled date and time window, then act on what comes back. This is useful for auditing delivery, building reports, and following up on messages that failed.

Every active filter is written into the page URL, so a filtered view can be bookmarked or shared with a colleague.

![Messages tab on the dashboard](https://s3.amazonaws.com/ecdassets/images/articles/dashboard-messages-tab.png)

### Prerequisites

- A role that grants the view_any_message permission, which the **Messages** page requires
- The **Messages** tab visible on the **Dashboard** tab strip, which an administrator can hide for individual accounts
- The create_messages permission if you plan to use **Forward** or **Resend**
- At least one message in your agency's history

### How-To Steps

#### How to Open the Messages Page

1. Go to **Dashboard** > **Messages**.

#### How to Limit Results to Outbound Messages

1. Select **Outbound** in the **Direction** list. The results reload as soon as you change the selection.

#### How to Narrow the Results

1. Select a value in **Status** to match the message's last delivery status.
2. Select a **Channel** to limit results to **Text (SMS)**, **Email**, **Voice**, **Push**, or **WhatsApp**.
3. Select a **Type** to limit results to one message type. The list holds the types your agency has used in the last six months.
4. Select an **Error Code** to show only messages that failed with that code.
5. Select a **Language** to show only messages sent in that language.
6. Enter a **From Date** to set the start of the scheduled window.
7. Enter a **From Time** to start that window at a specific time. Leave it blank to start at 00:00.
8. Enter a **To Date** to set the end of the scheduled window.
9. Enter a **To Time** to end that window at a specific time. Leave it blank to end at 23:59.
10. Click **Search** to apply the date and time fields.

#### How to Search by Keyword

1. Click the dropdown button at the top of the **Search Messages** panel. It shows the field you are searching, **to** by default.
2. Select **to**, **from**, **subject**, **content**, or **type**.
3. Enter your term in the box next to the dropdown.
4. Click **Search**.

#### How to Separate Simulated and Live Messages

1. Check **Simulate Mode** to show only simulated messages, which carry a SIMULATED badge in the results.
2. Check **Live Mode** to show only live messages that have already been sent.

Checking one option disables the other, so only one applies at a time. In the staging region, **Live Mode** shows the note Disabled in staging.

#### How to Review the Results

1. Click a column heading (**To**, **From**, **Status**, **Type**, **Scheduled**, **Created**, or **Updated**) to sort by that column.
2. Click the arrow button beside the sorted heading to switch between ascending and descending order.
3. Click a row to expand it and see **Client**, **Subject**, **Scheduled**, **Updated**, **Error Code**, and **Content**.
4. Click **Edit Message** in the expanded row to open the full message record.
5. Click **Load more** below the list to load the next set of results.

#### How to Export or Reuse the Results

1. Click **PDF** above the results to print the filtered list.
2. Click **CSV** to download the filtered list as a file.
3. Select the checkbox on each row you want to act on, or click **SELECT** in the table header to select every loaded row.
4. Click **Forward** to send copies of the selected messages elsewhere.
   - Enter an email address or phone number in **Forward To**.
   - Click **Confirm**.
5. Click **Resend** to send the selected messages again.
   - Select a **Channel** of **Default**, **Text (SMS)**, **Email**, or **Voice**.
   - Click **Confirm**.

### What to Expect

The **Status**, **Channel**, **Direction**, **Type**, **Error Code**, **Language**, **Simulate Mode**, and **Live Mode** controls rerun the search the moment you change them. The keyword box and the four date and time fields wait until you click **Search**.

The header above the table shows how many records you have loaded out of the total, and the list loads ten at a time. **Load more** appears at the bottom while more results remain. When nothing matches, the message "No Messages found." appears in place of the table.

**PDF** loads every matching record and then opens your browser's print dialog. **CSV** downloads a file named after the record count, and both exports cover every record matching your current filters rather than only the rows on screen, up to a cap of 100,000 records.

### Best Practices

- Set **Direction** to **Outbound** first. It is blank by default, so the list otherwise mixes in inbound replies.
- Remember that **From Date** and **To Date** match the message's scheduled date, shown in the **Scheduled** column, not the date the message was created.
- Filter by **Error Code** when auditing delivery problems. The code and its description also appear in the expanded row for each result.
- Check **Live Mode** before exporting a delivery report so simulated test traffic stays out of the file.
- Copy the page URL once your filters are set, since every active filter is stored in it and the same view reloads later.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Do I have to click Search after every change?**

A: No. The select lists and the two mode checkboxes rerun the search as soon as you change them. Only the keyword box and the **From Date**, **From Time**, **To Date**, and **To Time** fields wait for **Search**.

**Q: Which date do the From and To filters use?**

A: They match the message's scheduled date, the value in the **Scheduled** column. A message created on one day and scheduled for another falls inside the window of its scheduled date.

**Q: Why do only ten messages appear?**

A: The page loads ten records at a time. Click **Load more** below the list for the next set. The header above the table shows how many of the total you have loaded so far.

**Q: Does the CSV export include everything I filtered or only what is on screen?**

A: It exports every record matching your current filters, up to 100,000 records. If the export reaches that cap, a message tells you it exported the first batch and to narrow the filters for the rest.

**Q: Can I search for a Type that is not in the Type list?**

A: The **Type** list holds only the message types your agency has used in the last six months. To find an older type, select **type** in the search field dropdown and enter it in the search box.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** Search results include inbound messages.

**Symptoms:** Replies from clients appear alongside the messages your agency sent.

**Solution:** Select **Outbound** in the **Direction** list. **Direction** starts blank, which returns both directions.

**Issue:** No results appear even though your agency has sent messages.

**Symptoms:** The message "No Messages found." shows below the results header.

**Solution:** Clear **From Date** and **To Date**, since they match the scheduled date rather than the created date, and click **Search**. Then clear **Simulate Mode** and **Live Mode**, and remove the **Status**, **Error Code**, and **Language** selections one at a time.

**Issue:** You cannot check both **Simulate Mode** and **Live Mode**.

**Symptoms:** Checking one option greys out the other.

**Solution:** The two are opposites, so only one applies at a time. **Simulate Mode** returns simulated messages and **Live Mode** returns live messages that have already been sent. Clear both to see every message.

**Issue:** The Messages tab is missing.

**Symptoms:** The **Dashboard** tab strip does not show a **Messages** tab.

**Solution:** The tab can be hidden for individual accounts. Ask an administrator to review your account under **Admin** > **Users** > **Roles** and confirm your role grants the view_any_message permission.

### Related Articles

- [How to Send a One-off Message](/how-to-send-a-one-off-message)
- [How to Send a Message From the Dashboard](/how-to-send-a-message-from-the-dashboard)
- [How to Delete a Scheduled Message for a Client](/how-to-delete-a-scheduled-message-for-a-client)
- [Message Troubleshooting for Clients](/message-troubleshooting-for-clients)
- [Troubleshooting Automated Messages](/troubleshooting-automated-messages)