<commit_before>---
description: This page lists several examples of user search queries using query string syntax.
section: apis
---

# User Search

As an Auth0 admin you can search different fields of your users using [query string syntax](/api/management/v2/query-string-syntax) with the Users section of the Management API.

The `user_metadata`, `app_metadata` or the [normalized user profile](/user-profile/normalized) fields are searchable. Note that users have read/write access to the `user_metadata` field but only read-only access to the `app_metadata` field.

Auth0 User Search uses [Lucene Query Syntax](http://www.lucenetutorial.com/lucene-query-syntax.html).

## In the Dashboard

To search user fields in the [dashboard](${manage_url}/#/users), use the **Search By** drop down to select the field for the search. To use [Lucene Query Syntax](/api/management/v2/query-string-syntax) as shown in the [queries below](#example-queries) select **Lucene Syntax (Advanced)**.

![Select Lucene Syntax](/media/articles/api/user-search-lucene.png)

## Using the Management API

### API Explorer

To search users using the [Management APIv2](/api/v2#!/users/get_users) explorer go to the **Users** section and then select **List or search users**. Click on the scopes for your search. Scroll down to the `q` parameter, this field uses [query string syntax](/api/management/v2/query-string-syntax).

![q parameter](/media/articles/api/search-users-api.png)

In this field enter your query string to search users. [See below](#example-queries) for examples of queries you can run from this field.<commit_msg>Add warning about default sort issues<commit_after>---
description: This page lists several examples of user search queries using query string syntax.
section: apis
---

# User Search

As an Auth0 admin you can search different fields of your users using [query string syntax](/api/management/v2/query-string-syntax) with the Users section of the Management API.

The `user_metadata`, `app_metadata` or the [normalized user profile](/user-profile/normalized) fields are searchable. Note that users have read/write access to the `user_metadata` field but only read-only access to the `app_metadata` field.

Auth0 User Search uses [Lucene Query Syntax](http://www.lucenetutorial.com/lucene-query-syntax.html).

::: panel-warning Default Sort 
If there is no default sort field specified some users that have never logged in may not appear. No default sort field may also result in duplicate records returned and the order of list of users may appear random.
:::

## In the Dashboard

To search user fields in the [dashboard](${manage_url}/#/users), use the **Search By** drop down to select the field for the search. To use [Lucene Query Syntax](/api/management/v2/query-string-syntax) as shown in the [queries below](#example-queries) select **Lucene Syntax (Advanced)**.

![Select Lucene Syntax](/media/articles/api/user-search-lucene.png)

## Using the Management API

### API Explorer

To search users using the [Management APIv2](/api/v2#!/users/get_users) explorer go to the **Users** section and then select **List or search users**. Click on the scopes for your search. Scroll down to the `q` parameter, this field uses [query string syntax](/api/management/v2/query-string-syntax).

![q parameter](/media/articles/api/search-users-api.png)

In this field enter your query string to search users. [See below](#example-queries) for examples of queries you can run from this field.
{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.09988551803091013, 'fraction_numerical': 0.004006868918145392, 'mean_word_length': 4.757825370675453, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 3, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 3, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 2, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
{'dir': 'git-commits-cleaned', 'id': '7046544', 'n_tokens_mistral': 988, 'n_tokens_neox': 951, 'n_words': 424}