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SUPPORT & HELP

Using SearchLens

Everything you need to start searching, refine results, and troubleshoot the extension.

Getting started

After installing SearchLens, open YouTube and run a search. A small floating SearchLens launcher appears on search-result pages. Click it to open the full filter panel.

Tip: You can also click the extension icon in Chrome to start a new YouTube search directly from the popup.

Starting a search

There are two simple ways to begin:

  • Type a search term in the SearchLens extension popup and submit it.
  • Search on YouTube normally, then open the floating SearchLens launcher to refine the current results.

The search-term field inside the full SearchLens panel can also be used to start a different search without closing the panel first.

Custom date ranges

Date fields accept flexible input, so you do not need to memorize a full date format.

2004Whole year
2004-05Whole month
2004-05-17Exact date

You can also use the built-in calendar. Click the year to open the year picker, jump through year ranges, choose a year, then select the month and day.

Note: Custom date searches use date operators interpreted by YouTube search. SearchLens can build and refine the query, but it cannot force YouTube to return a video that YouTube itself does not include in the search results.

Filters and sorting

Strict relevance

Require words, match an exact phrase in titles, or exclude unwanted terms.

Channel filters

Include or exclude channels based on visible channel names.

Duration and views

Set minimum and maximum values using the metadata visible on loaded results.

Clean results

Hide Shorts, shelves, playlists, mixes, channels, live streams, or watched items.

Sorting applies to matching videos that are currently loaded on the page. As you scroll and YouTube loads more results, SearchLens reapplies the selected filters and sort.

The floating launcher

The floating SearchLens control is designed to stay out of the way until you need it.

  • Click SearchLens to open or close the panel.
  • Use the drag handle to move the launcher.
  • Use the close control to hide the launcher.
  • Open the extension popup and choose the filters option to restore it.

Troubleshooting

The launcher does not appear

  1. Make sure you are on a YouTube search-results page.
  2. Refresh the YouTube tab once after installing or updating the extension.
  3. Confirm SearchLens is enabled at chrome://extensions/.
  4. Open the SearchLens toolbar popup and try opening the filters from there.

A filter does not seem to affect every result

Some filters depend on metadata that YouTube exposes in the page, such as visible duration, view count, channel name, or watch progress. SearchLens only filters information available in the loaded result card.

The date search is broader than expected

SearchLens builds the date query, but the final set and ordering of results still come from YouTube search.

Important notes

SearchLens is an independent browser extension and is not affiliated with or endorsed by YouTube or Google.

YouTube may change its search interface or page structure over time. If a feature stops working after a YouTube update, refresh the page and check for an extension update.

STILL STUCK?

Report the issue with useful details.

Include the feature involved, what you expected, what happened instead, and a screenshot when possible. Use the contact or support method shown on the Chrome Web Store listing.

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