X Advanced Search: Every Operator That Works in 2026
X's search is surprisingly powerful — most people just use the basic search bar. Here's every operator that works in 2026, with copy-paste examples for each.
Key Takeaway
The three most useful operator combos: from:username min_faves:100 (find someone's best posts), "exact phrase" min_faves:500 (find viral posts on a topic), and to:username filter:replies (see who's replying to someone). These three alone cover 80% of research use cases.
How to Access Advanced Search
- • Visual form: Go to x.com/search-advanced — fill in fields, X builds the query
- • Direct operators: Type operators straight into the search bar on x.com or the mobile app
- • Combine freely: All operators can be chained in one query
User Operators
| Operator | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| from:username | Posts by a specific user | from:elonmusk AI |
| to:username | Replies directed to a user | to:naval advice |
| @username | Mentions of a user (broader than to:) | @autotweet review |
| list:list_id | Posts from members of a specific list | list:12345 funding |
Content Operators
| Operator | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| "exact phrase" | Match exact phrase | "product market fit" |
| word1 OR word2 | Match either word (OR must be caps) | startup OR founder |
| -keyword | Exclude keyword | AI tools -ChatGPT |
| #hashtag | Posts containing a hashtag | #buildinpublic |
| lang:code | Filter by language (ISO code) | startup lang:en |
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See PlansEngagement Operators
| Operator | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| min_faves:N | Minimum N likes | SaaS min_faves:500 |
| min_retweets:N | Minimum N reposts | "ai tools" min_retweets:200 |
| min_replies:N | Minimum N replies | startup advice min_replies:50 |
Pro tip: min_faves is the most useful operator on X. Use it to find only high-performing posts on any topic, which is the fastest way to study what works in your niche. See our analytics guide for what engagement thresholds are meaningful.
Date Operators
| Operator | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| since:YYYY-MM-DD | Posts after this date | AI since:2026-01-01 |
| until:YYYY-MM-DD | Posts before this date | launch until:2026-03-31 |
Combine both for a date range: from:username since:2026-01-01 until:2026-03-31 — shows all posts by that user in Q1 2026.
Media & Filter Operators
| Operator | What it does |
|---|---|
| filter:media | Posts containing any media (images, videos, GIFs) |
| filter:images | Posts with images only |
| filter:videos | Posts with videos only |
| filter:links | Posts containing URLs |
| filter:replies | Show only replies |
| -filter:replies | Exclude replies (original posts only) |
10 Power-User Search Combos
1. Find someone's best posts ever
from:username min_faves:500 -filter:replies2. Find viral posts on your topic this year
"your topic" min_faves:1000 since:2026-01-01 lang:en3. Research what people ask about your niche
"how do I" OR "how to" your-topic min_replies:104. Find threads by a specific user
from:username "thread" OR "🧵" min_faves:1005. Monitor brand mentions (excluding your own posts)
autotweet -from:autotweet -filter:replies6. Find competitor conversations
"competitor name" OR @competitor min_replies:5 since:2026-01-017. Find high-engagement image posts in your niche
your-topic filter:images min_faves:200 lang:en8. Find your own posts that performed well
from:yourusername min_faves:50 since:2026-01-019. Find posts linking to a specific domain
url:yourdomain.com -from:yourusername10. Content research: find long-form posts with high engagement
your-topic min_faves:300 -filter:replies since:2026-01-01 lang:enFAQ
How do I use advanced search on X?
Go to x.com/search-advanced for the visual form, or type operators directly in the search bar. Combine operators freely — e.g., from:username since:2026-01-01 min_faves:100.
What search operators work on X?
from:, to:, "exact phrase", since:/until:, min_faves:/min_retweets:/min_replies:, filter:links/media/images/videos, -keyword, lang:, and more. All combinable.
Can I search for posts with minimum likes?
Yes — min_faves:N filters by minimum likes. Also: min_retweets:N and min_replies:N for reposts and replies.
Related Reading
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