---
ref: tool:zendesk/search
name: Search tickets, users and organizations
company: company:zendesk
workflows: [workflow:support-expansion-signals, workflow:support-ticket-churn-risk]
access: [api]
tags: [capability:search-conversations, category:support, has:api]
docs: https://developer.zendesk.com/api-reference/ticketing/ticket-management/search/#list-search-results
updated: 2026-09-29
---

# Search tickets, users and organizations

Returns the tickets, users, organizations or groups that match a query in Zendesk's search syntax.

Note: Returns at most 1,000 results per query and 100 per page; for more, use `GET /api/v2/search/export`.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### API (official)

- Base URL: https://{subdomain}.zendesk.com
- Endpoint: `GET /api/v2/search?query={query}`
- Auth: send the header `Authorization: Bearer $ZENDESK_OAUTH_TOKEN`
- Get a key: https://developer.zendesk.com/documentation/authentication/oauth-migration/#getting-your-first-token
- Docs: https://developer.zendesk.com/api-reference/ticketing/introduction/

Note: `{subdomain}` is your Zendesk subdomain, as in `acme.zendesk.com`. Tokens from OAuth clients created since April 30, 2026 expire after 30 minutes.

Before anything else, confirm access with the cheapest read-only call, like a list or a search. Never send or change anything to test access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data, and say how many records it touches. One approval covers a batch the user has seen.
- Never print API keys.