---
ref: tool:zapier/run-search-action
name: Run a search action in an app
company: company:zapier
workflows: []
access: [mcp, cli]
tags: [capability:automate-workflows, category:automation, has:cli, has:mcp]
docs: https://docs.zapier.com/mcp/overview/how-tools-work
updated: 2026-09-27
---

# Run a search action in an app

Runs one read or search action in an app connected to Zapier, such as finding an email or looking up a contact, and returns what it finds.

On the CLI, pass the app, the action's type (`search` for lookups) and its
key, with `--connection` and `--inputs` as JSON; find an app's search actions
with `zapier-sdk list-actions <app> --action-type search`. Each successful MCP
tool call uses two tasks from the Zapier plan.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### MCP (official, remote)

Add this server to your agent's MCP settings, then sign in when asked.

```json
{ "mcpServers": { "zapier": { "url": "https://mcp.zapier.com/api/v1/connect" } } }
```

Call the MCP tool `execute_zapier_read_action`.

Server URL: https://mcp.zapier.com/api/v1/connect

### CLI (official)

Install the command, then confirm it runs.

```sh
npm install -g @zapier/zapier-sdk-cli
zapier-sdk --version
```

Run `zapier-sdk run-action`.

Before doing anything else, make one read-only call to confirm access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data.
- Never print API keys.