Immediate Value
After this tutorial, you’ll use global search for instant navigation, understand the search-result tabs, distinguish CRM records from enriched data, and know what search can and can’t find.Prerequisites
- Tutorial 1: Your First List
Quick-Start Roadmap
- Use global search for instant navigation
- Filter results by tab (People, Organizations, etc.)
- Handle multiple results (CRM vs. enrichment data)
- Practice search-based navigation
- Understand what search finds and what it doesn’t
- Know how quickly new records appear
- Save search results to a list
- Try AI-Powered Semantic Search (Beta)
- Ask AI Chat when you’re exploring, not looking up
What Search Does in Affinity
Global search is one keyboard shortcut from anywhere in the app. It indexes profiles, lists, notes, and enriched company records, so a single query can reach any entity in your account without menu navigation.Task 1: Use Global Search
Context
Global search opens with one keyboard shortcut and resolves to a profile, list, or note in a single click.🎬 Watch
Action
- Press Cmd+K (Mac) or Alt+K (Windows/Linux).
- Type a name, company, or list name.
- Results appear as you type.
- Click a result or press Enter to navigate.
Expected Outcome
You jump directly to any profile, list, or note in a couple of seconds.📚 Help Center
Task 2: Filter Results by Tab
Context
Search results are organized into tabs by entity type. When a query returns many matches, the tabs narrow them.Action
After searching, the results group into tabs:- Top Matches — best overall results (shown first)
- People — person profiles
- Organizations — company profiles
- Opportunities — deal records
- Lists — your lists
- Notes — note content Click any tab to see only that type, then click an entry to open it.
Expected Outcome
You can narrow search results to a specific entity type with one click.Task 3: Handle Multiple Results
Context
A search like “TechCorp” can return multiple results because Affinity includes both your CRM records and enriched company data from Affinity Data and Dealroom.Action
When you see multiple results for the same name:- Your CRM record shows “Last Contact: [date]” if your team has interacted with the entity.
- Out-of-network records are companies your team hasn’t worked with yet, shown with Affinity Data and Dealroom details so you can judge fit before adding them.
- A company joins your network once it’s on a list, has notes or files, or has interactions with your team. Just viewing its profile doesn’t count.
Expected Outcome
You can distinguish between your CRM records and enriched data in search results.Task 4: Practice Search Navigation
Context
Repetition builds the habit of search-first navigation.Action
Try this three times:- Press Cmd+K / Alt+K.
- Type a list name.
- Press Enter.
- Repeat with a company name, then a person name.
Expected Outcome
You’ve used search to navigate three different entity types.Task 5: What Search Finds (and What It Doesn’t)
Context
Knowing search boundaries helps you choose the right tool — search for entity discovery, filters for field-level analysis.Action
Expected Outcome
You know when to use search vs. filters for finding data.Task 6: How Quickly New Records Appear
Context
New and updated people, companies, and opportunities show up in search within seconds of being saved.Action
If you just created or updated a record and can’t find it via search:- Give it a moment, then search again.
- Check the spelling — keyword search on companies matches the name and website only.
- If it’s still missing, open the list you added it to and find the entry there.
Expected Outcome
You know that new records are searchable almost immediately, and what to check if one isn’t.Task 7: Save Search Results to a List
Context
When you find entities through search that should be tracked, you can add them to a list without leaving the result.Action
- Search for a company or person.
- Open their profile from the search results.
- Click “Add to List” on the profile.
- Select the target list → Confirm.
Expected Outcome
You’ve added an entity to a list directly from a search-driven discovery flow.Task 8: AI-Powered Semantic Search (Beta)
Context
AI-Powered Semantic Search lets you describe what you’re looking for in natural language instead of typing exact names — useful for discovering companies that match a thesis (“seed-stage climate startups in Europe”, “B2B SaaS with 50–200 employees”, etc.). Currently available for Companies in Beta.Action
- Open global search (Cmd+K / Alt+K).
- Choose Search with AI in global search. It’s a closed beta for organizations only, so you’ll see it only if your account is enrolled. Keyword search stays the default.
- Type a descriptive query — full sentences are fine.
- Review results and open profiles directly.
Expected Outcome
You can find companies that match a description, even if you don’t know the company name.📚 Help Center
Task 9: Ask AI Chat When You’re Exploring, Not Looking Up
Context
Search is fastest when you know what you’re looking for. When you have a question instead — “Which Series B medtech companies haven’t we spoken to in 90 days?” — ask AI Chat. It’s available on Scale, Advanced, and Enterprise, and it shows where its answer came from.Action
- Open AI Chat with Cmd+J (Mac) or Alt+J (Windows), or choose Chat with Affinity at the top of your global search results.
- Ask your question in plain language.
- Open the records it points to, and check the answer against them before acting on it.
AI Chat looks back over about 90 days of activity, and it can only see records you already have access to.
Expected Outcome
You know when to reach for AI Chat instead of search.📚 Help Center
Common Questions
Why does Alt+K work on Windows but not Ctrl+K?
Why does Alt+K work on Windows but not Ctrl+K?
Affinity uses Alt+K on Windows / Linux (not Ctrl+K) and Cmd+K on Mac. This is the registered shortcut in the keyboard config.
Can I search within a specific list?
Can I search within a specific list?
Yes. Open the list and click Find in the toolbar. Anywhere searches every visible column; Entries searches just names and domains. Type at least 3 characters — your filters stay as they are. See How to search within New Lists.
Does search find note content?
Does search find note content?
Yes. Search indexes note titles and content. Use the Notes tab in search results to find notes by keyword.
See It In Action
Where to Go Next
- Next tutorial: Tutorial 4: Notes and Research Workflows
- Learning Paths: Deal Sourcing (Step 2)
- Help Center: Conducting searches in Affinity