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Can I customize the standard columns for the search results (list view) specifically?

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  • 4 have this problem
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  • Last reply by Andreas

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When searching for emails I would like to adjust the columns in the search results list view, e.g. add the sender's address. This I would like to save as standard columns specifically for the search results list view, since in other contexts I do not need it. However, I can only set standard columns for existing folders, not for the context of "search results".

When searching for emails I would like to adjust the columns in the search results list view, e.g. add the sender's address. This I would like to save as standard columns specifically for the search results list view, since in other contexts I do not need it. However, I can only set standard columns for existing folders, not for the context of "search results".

Chosen solution

re :When searching for emails what method are you using? Are you talking about 'Quick filter' or 'Global Search' or via 'Edit' > 'Find' > 'Search Messages' ?

If you used the Global Search: Typed in a word: eg: Birthday and selected 'Messages mentioning birthday' Then a search is returned in a new tab. You click on 'open email as list' - to open in a new tab. Is this the search results list view that you are refering to?

the default columns should be: From, Subject, Date, Location If you only want to see eg: From and Date click on the icon 'select columns to display' located to far right of header column name. deselect Subject and Location

next time you run a global search then only those columns appear in the 'open email as list' view.

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If via 'Edit' > 'Find' > 'Search Messages' ? enter search parameters and click on 'Search' Is this the search results list view that you are refering to?

the default columns should be: From, Subject, Date, Location

Subject and Location cannot be edited. Other column headers can be selected in the same way using the far right 'Select columns to display' icon. Any column headers you select will not be remembered if you close and later peform another search.

If you click on 'Save as Search folder' This will create a folder in your Folder Pane and you can select column(s) you wish to display. Any Column headers you choose to display are selected for that saved search folder.


The column headers only change if you select to reset defaults on that folder or from another folder you select to apply to other folders for either the search folder or all folders in the account.

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If using Quick Filter: The QuickFilter type of search is done on the folder that is selected. You are still in the same folder, it has simply filtered what it is displaying, so it will obviously still display the same column headers.

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Chosen Solution

re :When searching for emails what method are you using? Are you talking about 'Quick filter' or 'Global Search' or via 'Edit' > 'Find' > 'Search Messages' ?

If you used the Global Search: Typed in a word: eg: Birthday and selected 'Messages mentioning birthday' Then a search is returned in a new tab. You click on 'open email as list' - to open in a new tab. Is this the search results list view that you are refering to?

the default columns should be: From, Subject, Date, Location If you only want to see eg: From and Date click on the icon 'select columns to display' located to far right of header column name. deselect Subject and Location

next time you run a global search then only those columns appear in the 'open email as list' view.

               --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If via 'Edit' > 'Find' > 'Search Messages' ? enter search parameters and click on 'Search' Is this the search results list view that you are refering to?

the default columns should be: From, Subject, Date, Location

Subject and Location cannot be edited. Other column headers can be selected in the same way using the far right 'Select columns to display' icon. Any column headers you select will not be remembered if you close and later peform another search.

If you click on 'Save as Search folder' This will create a folder in your Folder Pane and you can select column(s) you wish to display. Any Column headers you choose to display are selected for that saved search folder.


The column headers only change if you select to reset defaults on that folder or from another folder you select to apply to other folders for either the search folder or all folders in the account.

                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If using Quick Filter: The QuickFilter type of search is done on the folder that is selected. You are still in the same folder, it has simply filtered what it is displaying, so it will obviously still display the same column headers.

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Hi Toad-Hall, thank you very much for your help. This is really valuable information. I tried the different methods you described and now got a grip on them. Before, I was only using the global search via the search box in the upper right corner (the quick-find was not shown and I just had not found the button to activate it). Then, in the new results tab I always clicked on the email that I found most promising. In earlier versions Thunderbird did not save the column layout changes. Now it does. Embarrassingly, the "show as list" had escaped me before. This will be the preferred method for me from now on. Thanks again, Andreas

Modified by Andreas