The quick answer
Go to Home > Set Preferences > Analytics, select Include Inactives in Global & Quick Search, and save. To confirm that an item exists first, use Show Inactives on the Items list. Repeat global search, verify the intended item, and check that its Inactive field remains selected.
Screenshots show a synthetic walkthrough with example data. Person and operating-company names are fictional.
Before you start
You need permission to view the item and its list. This example uses an inactive inventory item named ARCHIVE-CASE and starts with the personal search preference cleared. The preference changes visibility for your user; role, subsidiary, and record restrictions still apply. A missing result alone does not prove a record is inactive.
01. Search for the known item
Enter ARCHIVE-CASE in global search. In this example, the item is absent while the preference is cleared. Keep that same term for the later comparison. Your account may return different results.
02. Check the Items list
Go to Lists > Accounting > Items, select a suitable view, and check Show Inactives. ARCHIVE-CASE appears beside CURRENT-CASE. If your view filters by item type, choose a type or view that includes the target. This list control does not change global-search preferences.
03. Save the inactive-search preference
Go to Home > Set Preferences, open the Analytics subtab, and locate Search. Check Include Inactives in Global & Quick Search, then click Save. This preference applies to the current user. It does not override record permissions, role or subsidiary restrictions, or a particular list filter.
04. Repeat the same global search
Search for ARCHIVE-CASE again. In this example, Item: ARCHIVE-CASE appears after saving. Global search can match searchable fields and return multiple record types. Confirm the record type and identifying details before opening it in view mode.
05. Confirm that the item stays inactive
On the form shown, open System Information and check that Inactive remains selected. Its location can differ on custom forms. Opening the record does not reactivate it; leave the field unchanged.
06. Try a narrow wildcard when needed
In classic NetSuite Global Search, if you know only part of a name, try %ARCHIVE%. The % wildcard matches zero or more characters. Inspect matching records and keep the term narrow enough to distinguish the intended item. If it is still absent, check the search term, record type, list filters, and role or subsidiary restrictions; ask an administrator to investigate access.
Common questions
Does Show Inactives change global search?
Show Inactives changes the current list. Include Inactives in Global & Quick Search is a separate preference for the current user. Save that preference before repeating global search.
Do I need to reactivate the item to find it?
No. Include inactive search results and inspect the record without clearing Inactive. Opening a result does not change the item status.
Why is the item still missing after saving the preference?
Check the term, item type, list filters, and your role or subsidiary restrictions. The preference does not grant access to records. Ask an administrator to investigate access if needed.
Can I search with part of the item name?
In classic global search, a narrow pattern such as %ARCHIVE% can find matching text within a name. Verify the result type and identity. Search behavior can differ in other interfaces.