• The AWS Systems Manager CloudWatch Dashboard will no longer be available after April 30, 2026. Customers can continue to use Amazon CloudWatch console to view, create, and manage their Amazon CloudWatch dashboards, just as they do today. For more information, see [Amazon CloudWatch Dashboard documentation](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudWatch/latest/monitoring/CloudWatch_Dashboards.html).
# Searching for SSM documents
You can search the AWS Systems Manager (SSM) document store for SSM documents by using either free text search or a filter-based search. You can also favorite documents to help you find frequently used SSM documents. The following sections describes how to use these features.
## Using free text search
The search box on the Systems Manager **Documents** page supports free text search. Free text search compares the search term or terms that you enter against the document name in each SSM document. If you enter a single search term, for example **ansible**, then Systems Manager returns all SSM documents where this term was discovered. If you enter multiple search terms, then Systems Manager searches by using an `OR` statement. For example, if you specify **ansible** and **linux**, then search returns all documents with *either* keyword in their name.
If you enter a free text search term and choose a search option, such as **Platform type**, then search uses an `AND` statement and returns all documents with the keyword in their name and the specified platform type.
**Note**
Note the following details about free text search.
Free text search is *not* case sensitive.
Search terms require a minimum of three characters and have a maximum of 20 characters.
Free text search accepts up to five search terms.
If you enter a space between search terms, the system includes the space when searching.
You can combine free text search with other search options such as **Document type** or **Platform type**.
The **Document Name Prefix** filter and free text search can't be used together. they're mutually exclusive.
**To search for an SSM document**
1. Open the AWS Systems Manager console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/).
1. In the navigation pane, choose **Documents**.
1. Enter your search terms in the search box, and press Enter.
### Performing free text document search by using the AWS CLI
**To perform a free text document search by using the CLI**
1. Install and configure the AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI), if you haven't already.
For information, see [Installing or updating the latest version of the AWS CLI](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/getting-started-install.html).
1. To perform free text document search with a single term, run the following command. In this command, replace *search\$1term* with your own information.
```
aws ssm list-documents --filters Key="SearchKeyword",Values="search_term"
```
Here's an example.
```
aws ssm list-documents --filters Key="SearchKeyword",Values="aws-asg" --region us-east-2
```
To search using multiple terms that create an `AND` statement, run the following command. In this command, replace *search\$1term\$11* and *search\$1term\$12* with your own information.
```
aws ssm list-documents --filters Key="SearchKeyword",Values="search_term_1","search_term_2","search_term_3" --region us-east-2
```
Here's an example.
```
aws ssm list-documents --filters Key="SearchKeyword",Values="aws-asg","aws-ec2","restart" --region us-east-2
```
## Using filters
The Systems Manager **Documents** page automatically displays the following filters when you choose the search box.
+ Document name prefix
+ Platform types
+ Document type
+ Tag key
![\[Filter options on SSM Documents page.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/latest/userguide/images/ssm-documents-filters-1.png)
You can search for SSM documents by using a single filter. If you want to return a more specific set of SSM documents, you can apply multiple filters. Here is an example of a search that uses the **Platform types** and the **Document name prefix** filters.
![\[Applying multiple filter options on the SSM Documents page.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/latest/userguide/images/ssm-documents-filters-2.png)
If you apply multiple filters, Systems Manager creates different search statements based on the filters you choose:
+ If you apply the *same* filter multiple times, for example **Document name prefix**, then Systems Manager searches by using an `OR` statement. For example, if you specify one filter of **Document name prefix**=**AWS** and a second filter of **Document name prefix**=**Lambda**, then search returns all documents with the prefix "`AWS`" and all documents with the prefix "`Lambda`".
+ If you apply *different* filters, for example **Document name prefix** and **Platform types**, then Systems Manager searches by using an `AND` statement. For example, if you specify a **Document name prefix**=**AWS** filter and a **Platform types**=**Linux** filter, then search returns all documents with the prefix "`AWS`" that are specific to the Linux platform.
**Note**
Searches that use filters are case sensitive.
## Adding documents to your favorites
To help you find frequently used SSM documents, add documents to your favorites. You can favorite up to 20 documents per document type, per AWS account and AWS Region. You can choose, modify, and view your favorites from the documents AWS Management Console. The following procedures describe how to choose, modify, and view your favorites.
**To favorite an SSM document**
1. Open the AWS Systems Manager console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/).
1. In the navigation pane, choose **Documents**.
1. Select the star icon next to the document name you want to favorite.
**To remove an SSM document from your favorites**
1. Open the AWS Systems Manager console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/).
1. In the navigation pane, choose **Documents**.
1. Deselect the star icon next to the document name you want to remove from your favorites.
**To view your favorites from the documents AWS Management Console**
1. Open the AWS Systems Manager console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/).
1. In the navigation pane, choose **Documents**.
1. Select the **Favorites** tab.