---
title: "How do I refine searches?"
date: "2025-01-09T20:19:39+00:00"
summary: "Discover how to refine your searches in Acquia DAM's classic search interface. Learn to use filters, tags, and advanced options to quickly find the exact assets you need, saving time and improving workflow efficiency."
image:
type: "page"
url: "/acquia-dam/how-do-i-refine-searches"
id: "bfab9d82-1593-4beb-9e40-9b5f252707ef"
---

This article explains refine search in classic search. [Learn more](/acquia-dam/what-redesigned-asset-search-experience "What is the redesigned asset search experience?") about Acquia DAM's redesigned search experience. 

With the refine search, you can narrow search results using filters that are based on certain criteria. After search results display, the Refine Search area in the left navigation automatically offers options for you to further refine your search and narrow the results. The area remains in place and visible as you scroll through results.  
  
As you filter a search, tags will display above the search results to confirm the filters have been applied, which gives more prominence to your initial searches as well as a way to back out of your search experience. The left navigation is updated as you add and clear tags. Any subsequent searches within or filters you choose will display above the search results.  
  

![As you filter a search, tags display above the results to confirm that filters are applied.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/6bf6e0b0-a0cd-423f-a253-5c0688b26269/web/ka0Pb0000006y6L00N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005Lw1S.png)

  
  
Clear filters to return to your prior search results. You can also click the X to remove a filter, which will update the search results and the refine search in the left navigation.  
 

Choose refine search options that display
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If you're a DAM admin, you can [configure the fields](/acquia-dam/how-do-i-configure-refine-search "How do I configure the refine search?") you'd like displayed as refine search options, as well as the order you want them to display.  
  
Searches can be refined by:

*   Animation: Find [animated GIF](/acquia-dam/what-are-animated-gifs "What are animated GIFs?") files.
*   Asset status: Find [released](How-do-I-release-and-unrelease-assets), [unreleased](How-do-I-release-and-unrelease-assets), and [expired](/acquia-dam/what-are-expired-assets "What are expired assets?") assets.
*   Attached documents: Find assets with [documents attached](How-do-I-attach-documents-to-assets).
*   Categories: Find assets by relevant child [categories](How-do-I-add-assets-to-categories).
*   Collections: Find personal, shared, and global [collections](/acquia-dam/what-are-collections "What are collections?").
*   Color: Find images containing specific [colors or HEX codes](Can-I-search-images-by-color). 
*   Comments: Find assets with public [comments](Tell-me-more-about-comments).
*   Document search: [Search document text](/acquia-dam/how-document-text-searched "How is document text searched?") for search terms entered in the [quick search](How-do-I-search-for-assets).
*   File types: Find PDFs, videos, documents, images, and compressed archives.
*   Metadata: Find assets with specific [metadata fields](/acquia-dam/what-are-metadata-fields "What are metadata fields?").
*   Orientation: Find assets by horizontal, vertical, and square layouts.
*   Ratings: Find assets that have been [rated](How-do-I-rate-assets) by others.
*   Search within: Refine [searches within](/acquia-dam/whats-search-within "What's Search Within?") your site by certain keywords.
*   Spinsets: Find [360° images](Is-360-degree-photography-supported-in-the-Collective).