While trying to combine to Gmail filters, I noticed something strange: filter from:person@example1.com alone returns 180 results, filter from:person@example2.com alone returns 69 results, but when combined—from:person@example1.com OR from:person@example2.com—, the filter returns only 120 results. Why?
Gmail – Why using boolean operators returns less results in Gmail filters
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(Converting my comment to an answer, as requested.)
I'm afraid that Gmail's filters aren't sophisticated enough for that.
Once created
It's still around, click on the dropdown
And if you're coming in later, the Settings/Filters option's still around where you can edit it.
Best Answer
Did you validate the actual numbers? The count of results is an estimate, indicated by the word "about". In the version of Gmail I see today, for a search like your first one, I get:
But when I page through the results clicking the
>button, the counts change:If I keep paging through, I arrive at the precise number:
It seems logical to me that combining another search with
ORmight give a lower number than both separately, since they're estimates.Another explanation assuming result numbers are precise: the search hits are on message threads. It's possible that a thread can contain messages
from:user1@example.com AND from:user2@example.com-- can you check that angle?